Nina Mason
- Commercial Landscaping
Cement substitute “unlikely” to reduce global emissions
An ingredient used to create ‘greener’ concrete might not be as effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as first hoped. Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) is a by-product of the iron and steel industry and has become an increasingly popular replacement for the carbon intensive Portland cement clinker, which is produced in kilns with other materials when heated up to around 1,480°C. But a report published this week by The Institution of Structural Engineers and others has found that increasing the use of the supplementary cementitious material in place of clinker in any one area is unlikely to have…
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Jack Skinner joins Blakedown Landscapes’ senior management team
Blakedown Landscapes is strengthening its management team with the introduction of Jack Skinner as senior contracts manager. The horticulturist brings a wealth of experience to the new role, the most recent being helping to launch and then heading up Maylim Landscapes, Maylim’s soft landscaping arm, over a year ago. Prior to this, Skinner had worked on high-end residential projects at Randle Siddeley and Bowles & Wyer. Skinner started his career in aftercare. “I came into the industry as a maintenance gardener. I used to live in Essex and was fortunate enough to be close to both RHS Hyde Hall and…
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Stihl “adjusting” post-covid as it gears up to boost battery offering
Stihl is aiming to grow its battery range to make up 80% of its offering by 2035. Chairman Michael Traub says the manufacturer will continue to focus on “double technology leadership”, offering both battery and combustion engine products. Its battery range currently makes up 20%. To meet its new target, the German outdoor power tool brand will be bringing part of its EC motor production in house. Around €17m is being invested in a new unit at its headquarters in Waiblingen, Germany, which Martin Schwarz – Stihl’s executive board member for manufacturing and materials – says will be the “heart…
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RHS and other industry members share how they’re embedding inclusivity at EDI event
Members of some of the industry’s leading charities and organisations gathered together on Friday at RHS Garden Wisley to hear the initial results of an industry-wide Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) survey. Following the signing of the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Charter for the Horticulture, Arboriculture, Landscaping & Garden Media at FutureScape last year, signatories have created a survey to provide a baseline figure for the diversity of the industry. So far, findings from the survey – which is still open for the industry to complete – show that the majority (36.4%) of the respondents are aged 45-54 and just…
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TASK Academy celebrates one-year anniversary
More than 200 students have taken part in more than 50 landscaping and horticultural courses at TASK Academy over the last 12 months. The independent training centre in Worcestershire was established a year ago to help tackle the industry’s skills shortage. Since its launch in September 2022, TASK Academy has doubled in size and has launched a curriculum of one- to three-day courses for students on its five-acre small holding near Pershore. It has also established partnerships with 10 training and 25 other industry partners, and introduced a series of one-day, land-based courses for members of the public, including dry…
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Andy Sturgeon Design plans approved for Canada Water development
Southwark Council has given planning permission to Andy Sturgeon Design for the development of the Canada Water Eastern Dockside in London. It is part of a wider 1.5 million sq ft commercially-led scheme at Canada Water Dockside, one of the London’s largest developments, led by Art-Invest Real Estate. London-based studio Andy Sturgeon Design won a competition to design a hub for the local community at the Eastern Dock Edge as part of the regeneration to deliver a new town centre, which is underway. The hub needed to “knit together” with the wider masterplan and development by British Land and reflect…
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New president-elect announced for Landscape Institute
Landscape architect and horticulturist Carolin Göhler has been revealed as the new president-elect at the Landscape Institute, saying she looks forward to “a new chapter to build a progressive and inclusive” organisation. The announcement comes after what has been a controversial year for the Landscape Institute, after its previous president-elect Brodie McAllister was removed from the position and as a trustee, sparking some members to call an EGM earlier this year, though the EGM was “unofficial” and the Landscape Institute urged members to not attend. From June next year, Göhler will become the 45th president of the Institute, serving a…
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Bowles & Wyer celebrates 30 years of ‘looking forward’
Bowles & Wyer celebrated its 30th anniversary last night at the venue of one of its most prolific projects. The design and build company, which was founded three decades ago by Chris Bowles and John Wyer, brought its colleagues, partners and clients together for an event at 78 St James Street. The Grade II listed building in central London is where Bowles & Wyer designed and built a series of outdoor areas and roof terraces, with the largest terrace featuring a living wall and planters with edibles and herbs. It won the National Landscape Award for Best Roof Garden over £100k, and…
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Two weeks left to enter this year’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation awards
Applicants have just two weeks left to enter Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation 2023 in association with Green-tech. Now in their ninth year, the awards recognise not only the up-and-coming talent within the industry, but also the diversity of horticulture and those working within it. The initiative has celebrated 240 winners to date from a variety of sectors within the industry – from sales to arboriculture, construction to design, or maintenance to landscape architecture. Previous winners have gone on to achieve aspirations such as gaining an RHS Gold medal, receiving a promotion or launching their own companies,…
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Two weeks to go until controversial ULEZ expansion
The landscaping industry has just two weeks until the Mayor of London’s expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) across all London boroughs comes into effect. Sadiq Khan is ploughing ahead with the expansion of the scheme across Greater London, despite the Labour party scrapping its own commitment to introducing clean-air zones such as ULEZ across the UK. Its draft policy handbook seemingly no longer includes support for the zones after Khan’s refusal to drop or delay the expansion was blamed for the party’s defeat in the Uxbridge & South Ruislip local by-election last month. Continuing with the expansion…
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Pro Landscaper Business Awards winners celebrate success at vineyard
The winners of this year’s Pro Landscaper Business Awards in association with Caribbean Blinds were invited to a vineyard in Sussex last week to recognise and reward their achievements earlier this year. The award-winning companies came together at Ridgeview Wine Estate in Ditchling for a tour of the vineyard followed by wine tasting and lunch. Ridgeview itself is a multi-award winner, producing high quality English sparkling wine from its estate in the South Downs National Park. It is a registered BCorporation, committed to making business ‘a force for good’. Jamie Wilkinson, managing director of organiser Eljays44, says: “What a great…
Read More » - Sustainability
Pro Landscaper launches new sustainability awards
Pro Landscaper has unveiled a new award initiative to recognise the industry’s most sustainable companies and projects. The Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards will recognise and reward the environmental benefits being provided by companies in the sector and the projects they’re creating. The awards will showcase innovation and initiatives across the UK landscaping sector, from design and construction through the product supply and manufacturing. General manager Joe Wilkinson says: “The Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards yet again shows Pro Landscaper’s commitment to the landscaping industry. In a sector that is at the forefront of the sustainability movement, it’s…
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Taking on BBC Gardeners’ World Live for the first time
Katerina Kantalis is set to make her show garden debut this month. The Australian designer is creating a garden for the APL Avenue at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live in Birmingham alongside contractor New Look Landscapes, which will also be making its debut. “New Look have done quite a lot in the commercial space and want to transfer their skills to the domestic area, whereas I’m more domestic. So, we’re bringing in skillsets from both sides,” says Kantalis. ‘The Chic Garden Getaway’ will aim to show visitors how much can be achieved within a small space. At just…
Read More » - Topics
LI urges members to not attend ‘unofficial’ EGM
An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) called earlier this week to discuss the Landscape Institute’s presidency dispute will not be “official”, says the organisation. A statement issued by the Landscape Institute (LI) is urging members not to attend the EGM at the end of June and has asked “the requisitioners to reconsider their actions.” The EGM was called by Brodie McAllister, who was removed from his position as president-elect last year following multiple allegations. McAllister says 145 members signed the requisition and the three requirements in the LI’s bylaws to proceed with the EGM had been met. However, the LI says…
Read More » - Digital Editions
Pro Landscaper June 2023
One of the biggest challenges in the industry, we’re often told, is finding the right candidates for the roles available. Why is our sector struggling to attract talent? And what can we do about it? For a start, better value ourselves – at least, that seems to be the suggestion of one of our features this month which looks at whether the grounds maintenance sector is in a race to the bottom. In this issue: On Your Marks, Get Set, Go! It’s a competitive sector, but are grounds maintenance companies tendering with impossibly low prices, and could this be damaging…
Read More » - Landscape Architecture
EGM called over Landscape Institute presidency dispute
An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) appears to have been called by more than 100 members of the Landscape Institute to address the ongoing dispute over the removal of the president-elect last year. Brodie McAllister was elected to be the next president in 2021 and was due to take over the position from July 2022 until multiple allegations led to his removal as a trustee and as president-elect. Over the last year, McAllister has been fighting the allegations and demanding an EGM be held. It will now seemingly take place on Tuesday 27 June in London and via Zoom after 145…
Read More » - Garden Design
Just Stop Oil protestors target Chelsea
Protestors from environmental campaign group Just Stop Oil have been arrested after throwing orange paint across the RBC Brewin Dolphin Garden this morning. The garden, designed by Paul Hervey-Brookes, was targeted by three protestors around 9am. Hervey-Brookes has called the garden “permanently destroyed”, while contractor Gareth Wilson – who built the garden – wrote on social media that “fuming is an understatement.” Wilson added that “stupidity knows no boundaries, especially as the RHS is pushing sustainability at the very top of its agenda. Gardens that aren’t sustainable simply don’t get accepted by the RHS.” This year is the first year…
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Making the most of the world famous show
We feel that Chelsea is the annual opportunity to learn from our incredible horticulturists on a number of levels; about how plants benefit not only plants and soil but our bodies too. Surely this is as relevant as finding out the latest on cultivating a stunning rose, and there is a place for both. Weeds are taking centre stage at Chelsea this year – and with good reason. Weeds are our pioneer plants and are all healers, in one way or another. They are natural, wild plants. They form the basis of all our human medicines, and now is a…
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Behind the Fauna & Flora Garden
The Fauna & Flora Garden at this year’s Chelsea has been four years in the making. Garden designer Jilyane Rickards was fresh from winning a Gold medal and the People’s Choice Award at the 2019 show when she started designing the next one – one which would have as much gravitas as the last. Whilst her show garden four years ago highlighted the work CAMFED does to support females in rural or poor communities in Africa to receive an education, Rickards’ latest garden – showcased this week at the Royal Hospital Chelsea – will raise awareness of a mountain gorilla…
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- Garden Design
Transcendence Garden marks the end of an era for three Chelsea stalwarts
This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show is set to be the last for those behind the Memoria & GreenAcres Transcendence Garden. Garden designers Andrew Wilson and Gavin McWilliam, and David Dodd – managing director of prolific contractor The Outdoor Room – have all said they will probably not be returning to the world-famous show as they look to welcome the next generation of designers and landscapers. Whilst The Outdoor Room will continue to build show gardens, Dodd says the Transcendence Garden is “a fantastic one for me to bow out on.” It is the third show garden he was worked…
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7 Highlights from Press Day at Chelsea
Chelsea had a renewed buzz today, and it wasn’t just from all the biodiverse gardens. Hundreds of visitors flocked to press day to immerse themselves in the variety of show gardens on display, and what a variety – designers this year have tackled everything from mental health and grief, from diversity to a colony in Korea, and from community gardens to insects. Sustainability was also an overriding focus this year, with some designers and contractors going above and beyond to make their garden as environmentally friendly as possible. This was the real return of Chelsea post-pandemic, and it’s seemingly stepping…
Read More » - Domestic Landscaping
A Good Samaritan
Over the last 70 years, the Samaritans has answered 134 million calls – that’s millions of people in need of its free services over the last seven decades. Last year, volunteers spent nearly one million hours responding to these calls, and so it’s thanks to these 23,000 volunteers that the support provided by the Samaritans is even possible. And one of these volunteers has designed a show garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year. Garden designer Darren Hawkes has lost friends to suicide and so he wanted to help the charity which could make a difference by offering…
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Bringing Jiri Mountain to Chelsea
Tell us about the concept behind the garden. The garden is an evocation of Mount Jiri in South Korea, a primeval forest (the last remaining) rich in medicinal plants. It is a rare and beautiful place that has been protected from humans. I began thinking about the positive balance between humans and nature through the Jiri Mountain National Park, where unnamed valleys and mountain peaks exist, and where medicinal plants thrive in abundance. In the east of Jiri Mountain, about 1,500 kinds of medicinal herbs grow naturally and the environment serves as a gigantic seedbank. The restoration of the primitiveness…
Read More » - Topics
House of Lords told horticulture needs a “rebrand” to attract younger generation
Horticulture needs to be rebranded and needs to be introduced into the curriculum, said witnesses today to the Horticultural Sector Committee. In the latest of a series of evidence sessions so far into the challenges, opportunities and risks faced by the horticultural sector, the committee was told that horticulture “needs a rebrand throughout the entire education system.” Lilidh Matthews, treasurer of the Young People in Horticulture Association, said that there are “a lot of perceptions around horticulture as a career that aren’t valid and that needs to be changed throughout the education system, all the way up to the point…
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