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COVER STORY BEFORE THE EYES CAN FOCUS – CROCUS WWW.WESSEXINTL.COM WESSEX INTERNATIONAL Walk-behind mowers Playgrounds Artificial grass Education THE UK’S NUMBER 1 LANDSCAPING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

THE LANDSCAPER MARCH 2015

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THE LANDSCAPER IS THE UK'S LEADING MAGAZINE FOR PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPERS. ESTABLISHED 16 YEARS IT'S READ BY LANDSCAPERS, LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS, GREENKEEPERS, GROUNDSMEN, ARBORIST, DESIGNERS AND HORTICULTURISTS.

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Page 1: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

COVER STORY

BEFORE THE EYES CAN FOCUS – CROCUS

LANDLANDLANDSCSCSCAPERAPERAPERTHE

THE

THE

ISSUE 193 £3.95ISSUE 193 £3.95ISSUE 193 £3.95MARCH 2015MARCH 2015MARCH 2015

WWW.WESSEXINTL.COM

WESSEX INTERNATIONAL

Walk-behind mowers Playgrounds

Artificial grass Education

THE UK’SNUMBER 1

LANDSCAPINGINDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Page 2: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

A DIY GARDEN LIGHTING SYSTEM

ü Plugs into an outdoor socket

ü Perfect for Landscape Gardeners – no electrician required

üMaximum length 300m

ü Simple IP67 plug and play connection

üLarge range of garden lights

ü Exclusively distributed by Simple Lighting

For further information on this revolutionary system please call

0808 159 4973or email [email protected]

Page 3: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

Editorial

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 333

Spring has arrived

Hedgecutters

It’s tough for the 16-24

age group these days.

Because they don’t vote,

politicians don’t try to

connect with them.

There’s plenty of evidence

to suggest that today’s

young are di� erent – they

are sober more responsible

and very aware of the world

around them. Many realise

that some careers o� er

45 years in an open plan

o� ce looking at a computer.

Horticulture and

landscaping have a great deal

to o� er; fresh air, creativity

variety and nature. What’s

the best way in? Experience,

education or a combination

of both? Carol Dutton looks

at the options (p31).

Spring has arrived and the

grass is growing; James de

Havilland looks carefully at

walk-behind mowers (p19).

The Garden Press Event

this year was packed with

new products and ideas

(p50) and our photographer

was there with her new

smartphone.

Playgrounds should be

an election issue because

they are under threat.

When children use a

well-designed playground

(p46) apart from keeping

them � t, healthy and

sociable it improves their

ability to assess risk.

Arti� cial grass does not

grow – one of it’s major

selling points. We look at

some of the UK’s leading

suppliers (p39).

Hambrooks (p48)

have launched a Garden

Destination Centre. The

project allows potential

customers to walk around

and inspect dozens of

creative, award-winning

show gardens. A clever

scheme that I’m sure will

be successful.

A bumper 60 pages of

succinct information to

tuck into your glove

compartment and read

over a cup of strong tea.

Have a good month!

Wessex International has launched

a new range of tractor-mounted

hedgecutters for the groundcare

markets, with public highway use.

The � agship models, the T500G

and TPE600, have a reach of 4.85m

and 5.96m respectively with a 1.2m

working width head, and both feature

the option of cable controls or the

EP-Tronic proportional control joystick

for accurate manoeuvrability.

In the mid-range, the TA38OD and

TA43OD o� er 3.84m and 4.33m reaches

with a 1m width cutting head and a

choice of Y-pattern or Bootie � ails and a

mechanical break-away device. The arms

are fabricated from heavy gauge circular

steel tube for maximum resistance to

torsion stress and the moulded hydraulic

oil tank is designed to signi� cantly

reduce the overall weight.

A thermostatically-controlled oil

cooler is an optional extra.

Both hedgecutters are designed for

use in groundcare and agriculture. For

a smaller hedgecutter, designed to suit

compact tractors from 20hp, the TA26

and TA32 both feature a 0.9m cutting

head. The former is a right-handed

hedgecutter which o� ers maximum user

comfort while allowing the driver to view

the operation over their right shoulder.

The left-handed TA32 is designed for

use on the public highway. The � oating

head on these machines allows an even

cut over uneven ground and front steel

guards eliminate projectiles being

thrown out. An adjustable steel roller

and tractor stabilisers help to maintain

rigidity on the tractor. An additional

option is a cutter bar which is ideal for

use on public footpaths.

Wessex International:

01264 345870

www.wessexintl.com

[email protected]

@landscaper_ed

Page 4: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

42 THE L A N D S C A P E Rwww.raycomfg.com : 800.392.2686

When you need a compact stump cutter with the go-anywhere traction and fl otation that only tracks can provide, the Trac Jr is your solution. This all-new design from RAYCO raises the bar for compact stump cutters by offering a small machine that is truly full-featured. Rubber tracks provide excellent traction and ground pressure of less than 4psi. Huge, 47-inch cutting width tackles big stumps, and a hydraulic backfi ll blade makes easy work of clean-up. A RAYCO-exclusive swing out control station provides excellent visibility of the cutting action while swinging forward to travel through gates. Powered by a 35hp Vanguard gasoline engine. Available with a custom trailer. Contact RAYCO or your Authorized Dealer for details.

Get on

trackSwing Out Control Station

Westcon Equipment (UK) Limited, Unit 2 Bridge Street, Bailie Gate Industrial Estate, Sturminster Marshall, Dorset. BH21 4DBTel: (01258) 859100 Fax: (01258) 858434

Email: [email protected] Website: www.westconuk.co.uk

Contact Westcon Equipment for further details.

www.raycomfg.com

in 2015

Page 5: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com5

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 335

Contents

The Landscaper has anABC audited average net circulation of 4,292 copies

(1st July 2012 to 30th June 2013).

editor / publisherDavid Curtistel: 020 8891 485007780 967735 (m)[email protected]

featuresCarol DuttonF� on Llwyd-JonesClaudia de YongJames de Havilland

commercial managerMatthew Curtistel: 020 8891 [email protected]

designerSarah Rogers

[email protected]

multimedia and videotel: 020 8891 [email protected]

circulation and subscriptionstel: 020 8891 [email protected]

The Landscaper is published by Curtis Media Ltd under license from Metropolis Business Media Ltd

Curtis Media Ltd Grand Prix House,102-104 Sheen Road,Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1UF

printed by: Headley Brothers Ltd

Latest news ........................................ 06

Walk-behind Mowers ..................... 19

Saltex 2015 ......................................... 25

Cub Cadet ........................................... 29

Education ........................................... 31

Arti� cial Grass ................................... 39

Hardscaper ......................................... 44

Playgrounds ...................................... 46

Garden Destination Centre .......... 48

Garden Press Event ......................... 50

Plantseeker / Pro-File ..................... 53

Changing Places .............................. 56

Jobs ...................................................... 57

March 2015

39

46

50

31

Nothing in this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers. Readers intending to purchase goods or services from advertisers should make their own enquiries if in any doubt. Every endeavour has been made to ensure that all the information published in this magazine is as accurate as possible. Neither the publishers nor their agents can be held responsible for any errors or omissions; nor shall they be liable for any loss or damage to any person acting on the information contained in the magazine.

Copyright © 2015

Page 6: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com6

News

Deadly for weeds Rob Clare, Course

Manager of Brough

Golf Club in East Riding,

Yorkshire, is delighted

with the results of his

weed control programme.

After applying the

selective systemic herbicide

Holster XL on his greens,

hardy weeds such as

Daisy, Slender Speedwell,

Dandelion, Creeping

Buttercup and Clover have

all but disappeared.

“We applied the Aitkens

Holster XL to the greens

last year knowing it’s a very

e� ective method of weed

control,” said Rob.

Holster XL is a e� ective

weed killer despite very

low application rates. Once

sprayed it is absorbed

through the leaf of the plant

and rapidly translocates

through the stem and

ultimately to the roots,

killing the weed.

Scrub – no chance

No more fuel related issues!

Anglo American Oil Company Ltd

Aspen 2 and Aspen 4 are virtually free from ethanol, sulphur, solvents, olefins

and benzene. Aspen will not cause any fuel related break-downs and can be left

in machines for up to 5 years

01929 [email protected]

www.aspenfuel.co.uk

Pre-mixed at 50:1 (2%) with fully synthetic oil.For two-stroke engines

Without added oil.For four-stroke engines

Aspen ad.indd 1 14/01/2015 13:25

The answer to clearing areas

of dense vegetation and

heavy scrubland is to � nd

yourself a rotary slasher.

The Wessex Scrubmaster

has a reputation for serious

scrub clearing ability.

Wessex say they still

receive calls for spare

parts for Scrubmasters

over thirty years old.

Little stands in the way

of this slasher with its

heavy gauge steel plate

and exceptionally high

performance drive system.

You have the choice of a

blade assembly with four

heavy-duty reversible

blades mounted on the large

hardened steel square plate,

delivering over 2,000 one ton

impact cuts a minute.

It will slash its way through

woody material, e� ortlessly

bringing down scrub, and it

can be used for controlling

grass and weed growth.

In areas where there

are tree stumps and rocks

which could damage blades

you can turn to the chain

cutters which comprise

three high tensile chains

on a circular boss. This will

lacerate woody and � brous

scrub growth and accelerate

its breakdown.

What’s of paramount

importance in a slasher that’s

taking on such heavy-duty

work is the drive system

and this is transmitted via a

friction plate clutch to the

gearbox with hardened,

bevel gears running in an oil

bath for smooth operation.

The cutter assembly

is welded on a tapered

hub which locks onto the

gearbox output shaft.

The Scrubmaster also has

adjustable side skids with

replaceable wear shoes and

the skids are positioned

so the working width is

marginally less than the

overall width, allowing you

to cut close to stumps and

trees in plantations.

The fully � oating head-

stock allows the slasher to

be dragged across rough

ground with minimal stress

to the frame of the machine

and a heavy galvanized chain

lifts it out of work.

Where you’re manoeuvring

in and around trees there is

an optional rear castoring

wheel assembly so you don’t

need to lift and lastly, the

Wessex Scrubmaster has

heavy gauge steel tailplates

to retain debris and give the

scrub no chance of escaping

a thorough mulching.

01264 345870

www.wessexintl.com

Page 7: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 337

News

Contract – fit for a king Glendale has been selected

to restore grounds at

Lincoln Castle as part of

a £22million renovation

programme, supported

by the Heritage Lottery

Fund, to bring William

the Conqueror’s fortress

back to life.

Glendale’s groundwork

is the final stage in the

three-year ‘Lincoln Castle

Revealed’ project being

delivered by Lincolnshire

County Council, to coincide

with the 800thanniversary of

the sealing of Magna Carta

this year.

The closed castle will

re-open its gates on April 1

and Glendale has only five

weeks to deliver the £25,000

programme of work, which

involves using specialist

diggers and equipment to

excavate shrubs and roots

from around the castle’s

perimeter. It will also return

the excavated shrub areas

to turf, import fresh topsoil,

and remove old benches,

footpaths and stone walls

from the site.

The wider project has

involved opening the

castle’s prison, building

visitor facilities, and the

creation of an underground

vault which will house

Lincoln’s Magna Carta,

one of only four surviving

original copies of the

document which launched

parliamentary democracy.

Andrew Trott, contract

manager at Glendale,

said: “We’re thrilled to

be involved with such a

prestigious and unusual

programme of work. We’ve

even been told we may

need to be accompanied by

an archaeologist while we

carry out the work in case

we uncover any historic

artefacts, which is exciting.”

Flood itBLT Direct have launched

a new range of portable

flood lights, perfect for a

variety of applications;

from lighting outdoor

sports pitches to providing

illumination for outdoor

commercial events.

Worksites benefit from

the lights, which allow

employees to carry on

working into the night.

The lights are a quick

and convenient way to

light up difficult areas

temporarily. They have no

trailing wires or dangerous

cables, and there’s no

planning permission

required for these simple

lights – unlike columned

or permanent lighting,

which must be applied for.

All of the lamps are

kitted out with state-of-

the-art LEDs, which reduces

the amount of power they

need to run, and maximises

the battery life. Many of

the lamps also come with

both a mains charger and

a car charger, so it’s easy

to keep the lithium-ion

battery powered up when

on-the-go.

The lights are availab

in a variety of different

colour temperatures but

the most prevalent is

Daylight – the ideal colour

for keeping outdoor areas

lit long after the sun has

gone down.

There are also RGB

floodlights available for

outdoor events.

Page 8: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com8

News

BTME winner!Limagrain UK has

announced Simon White,

head greenkeeper of

the Chase Golf Club in

Staffordshire, as the

winner of its GoPro

camera competition.

The competition was

part of Limagrain UK’s

appearance at BTME

which also saw the launch

of three new Limagrain

catalogues; the market

leading MM grass seed

mixtures, the Designer

range of amenity grass

seed and Limagrain’s Colour

Splash flower mixtures.

Visitors to Limagrain’s

stand at BTME simply had

to fill out a form for their

chance to win the GoPro

camera – an Emmy Award-

winning product renowned

for stunning image

quality and powerful

features. The draw was made

two weeks later and Simon’s

name was pulled out of the

hat as the lucky winner.

Simon entered the

competition after visiting

the Limagrain stand to

find out more about the

extensive range of products

which have helped improve

a number of golf courses

throughout the UK.

Set deep in the heart of

the beautiful Staffordshire

countryside, the Chase Golf

Club will provide Simon

with ample opportunity to

put his new GoPro camera

to use. Also, as a keen

mountain biker Simon plans

to take it with him on some

of his adventures.

Page 9: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 339

News

GRINDERSTUMP

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Designed and manufactured in the UK

Remove unwanted tree stumps without destabilizing the ground

Excavator mounting gives excellent positioning capability – up / downbanks, over fences.

Designed to give the operator an unrestricted view of the work

Multi position mounting interface

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Tipper in a hurryThe big news from Isuzu

Truck is that its brand new

Euro VI Isuzu 12.00 tonne

GVW ‘FORWARD’ made its

debut at the CV Show.

It features a compact

overall footprint as well

as class-leading carrying

capacity of 7952kgs

(body/payload). The Isuzu

F120.240 4x2 rigid is really

compact in size with a low

chassis height and o� ers

great versatility.

Available with either

Isuzu’s Easyshift or manual

transmissions, it is easy to

drive and o� ers excellent

manoeuvrability. With

Isuzu’s Euro VI four-cylinder

5.2 litre diesel engine

producing 240 PS power and

765Nm torque, this engine

really does o� er superb fuel

economy and productivity.

Also making its debut

is the Euro VI Isuzu ‘Urban’

N75.150(E) short wheel-

base chassis, featuring a

Brit-Tipp all-steel tipper

body that o� ers a payload

of 3780kgs. This vehicle is

part of a programme of

pre-bodied Isuzu tippers

that have full ECWVTA and

are available o� -the-shelf,

for customers that require

a tipper in a hurry.

A similar programme is

also in place with Brit-Tipp

on long wheelbase chassis

with aluminium drop-side

bodies – these vehicles have

a payload of 4180kgs.

Completing the four

vehicle line-up for Isuzu are

two Isuzu ‘Forward’ N75.190

Euro VI rigids for two of the

industry’s biggest names,

Argos and HSS. Both

vehicles feature the popular

Easyshift transmission.

As one of an order for

66 new Isuzus, the Argos

7.5 tonner has an extended

5.3 m wheelbase and is

� tted with a demount

body highlighting the new

striking Argos livery.

The HSS vehicle is part of

a 19-strong order of Isuzus

and is � tted with a drop-

side body with a 2-tonne

cantilever tail lift.

Spring tonicA rather unusual tree has

just come into � ower in

Wimborne’s Knoll Gardens

heralding the spring with

its delicate scent and a mass

of velvety cream � owers.

Not often seen in the

UK, the Southern Sassafras,

also known as the Australian

Snowdrop Tree, is a native

to the warmer climes of

Australasia. Having come

into � ower several weeks

earlier than usual it would

appear to be very much

enjoying its sunny sheltered

spot in Knoll’s free-draining

sandy soil.

With shiny, serrated,

evergreen leaves and a

dense conical shape this

unusual tree was also once

renowned for

its alleged

medicinal

properties, with

the Victorians

praising its virtues

as an all round

tonic, possibly

due to the

aromatic nutmeg-

like smell of its

crushed leaves.

Page 10: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com10

News

Green capital The final phase of public

realm landscape design

for Bristol’s award-winning

Harbourside development

has been completed by UK

landscape architects Grant

Associates for developer

Crest Nicholson.

The completion of

the 15 year regeneration

project comes as Bristol

celebrates its status as

European Green Capital in

2015 – awarded for the city’s

outstanding commitment

to sustainability, creativity,

culture and innovation.

Bristol Harbourside

is a £120m mixed-use

development on the edge

of the city’s floating harbour

which has regenerated the

heart of Bristol’s historic

waterfront. Sustainable

landscape design has

played a key role in the

overall scheme.

Highlights include:

• A vibrant series of

spaces, routes and

public squares

The creation of a series

of spaces and routes

enhances the floating

harbour’s wider public realm,

including new public squares

and tree-lined avenues, and

harbourside moorings with a

new harbour inlet.

Views and access to

the waterfront have been

opened up, in particular

those of the cathedral and

the previously inaccessible

Harbour Walk strengthening

the site’s visual connections

with the city bringing the

waterfront back to life.

• Sustainable urban

drainage

A sustainable urban drainage

story celebrates the passage

of rainwater from the roofs of

the buildings to the harbour,

visible through a series of

collection dishes, channels

and rills, and irrigating the

planting along the way.

Floating reed beds along

the harbour edge filter

rainwater and surface water

before it enters the harbour.

The floating reed beds have

also created valuable habitat

opportunities and provide an

attractive waterside setting.

Other habitat opportunities

include an extensive green

wall, fronting onto the

central public square.

• The Brunel Mile Public

Walkway

The Brunel Mile, a key

public walkway from

Temple Meads station to the

SS Great Britain.

Love the plot Consumers looking to

transform their neglected

outdoor spaces can help

and inspiration from a new

nationwide campaign

called ‘Love the Plot

You’ve Got’ which is set to

go on tour at events and

cities around the country,

starting in March 2015.

Love the Plot You’ve

Got is designed to help

and inspire 30 to 45 year

olds who have access to a

garden or outdoor space

but don’t currently make

great use of it. Industry

research has revealed that

skills and knowledge once

handed from one generation

to another are being lost,

and that while lots of

people want to improve

their outdoor spaces and

environment, a lack of

knowledge and confidence

is holding them back.

Visitors to the Love the

Plot You’ve Got roadshow

will meet friendly advisors

who will provide them

with easy to understand,

jargon-free information

and achievable and realistic

advice on how to transform

their outdoor living spaces,

small or large.

Love the Plot You’ve

Got advisors will be on

hand with four specially

constructed show

gardens, replicating the

size of an average UK

back garden, and also a

balcony garden feature

to provide inspiration,

advice and demonstrate

different ways of turning a

neglected outdoor space

into a haven for relaxation,

entertainment and fun.

The roadshow will

showcase a patio garden

and an edible garden,

which will be ornamental

with edible flowers mixed

among some very attractive

vegetables. There will be

a container garden which

makes use of raised beds

and portable planters that

can be moved between

properties, ideal for people

who are currently renting.

There will also be a feature

balcony gardening so no-one

need miss out, whatever the

size of their outdoor space.

The events will be

supported by horti-

culturalist, broadcaster

and TV gardener Chris

Collins, who will provide

tips and demonstrations

including planting a hanging

basket, seed sowing, day

to day gardening advice

and free interactive kids

gardening activities to

inspire the next generation.

Page 11: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3311

News

Howzat!Over 200 cricket

groundsmen made their

way to Dennis and SISIS’

cricket seminar hosted

by St Albans School Trust

where they refreshed

their education on a

variety of topics.

The seminar, which

was supported by other

key companies in the

groundscare industry such

as local dealer for Dennis

and SISIS – RT Machinery

along with Boughton

Loam, CricketWorld.com,

Ecosol, Harrod UK,

Headland Amenity

Products, Limagrain and

Poweroll, proved to be an

overwhelming success after

an impressive line-up

of speakers delivered

insightful presentations

relevant to those working

in the industry.

The event – which was

over-subscribed – brought

together cricket groundsmen

representing grass roots,

schools, local clubs and

international test venues.

It was a great chance to

meet other like-minded

individuals, share and gain

knowledge, learn best

practises and ultimately

enhance their education.

Following an introduction

by Dennis and SISIS area

sales manager Robert

Jack, Ian Smith, pitches

consultant for St Albans

School Trust, kick-started the

presentations by focusing on

end of season renovations

which gave delegates a

fabulous insight into the kind

of work that is required in

renovating a cricket pitch of

St Albans School’s stature.

Ian Wall, grounds manager

for the Bank of England

Sports and Social Club, then

delivered his presentation

on using a cricket pitch for

winter sports before Chris

Wood, pitch consultant for

the ECB, gave an insight

into international pitch

inspection and even brought

with him some of the tools

he uses.

Legendary England

cricketer Mike Gatting, who

now works with the ECB,

took a walk down memory

lane speaking about life

in the top tier of cricket as

well as relaying some rather

amusing stories about his

ex-team mates. He then

addressed the problem

of losing 7% of the cricket

population in the last

couple of years, partly due

to the fact that a lot of

games are being cancelled

or conceded very early. In

order to solve this problem,

Mike opened the floor to

find out what groundsmen

required from the ECB in

order to help them.

“It was nice to see so many

people here wanting to

understand a bit more about

their art. My job today was

really to talk to them about

and thank them for all the

work they do but also to

try and implore them to

help us with a new grounds

scheme we are launching

at the ECB. I hope I have

planted the seed in a lot of

groundsmen about getting

the game on,” he said.

Following a networking

lunch, the Institute of

Groundsmanship’s Andy

Clarke, offered some very

helpful tips in his early spring

cricket pitch maintenance on

a budget presentation.

Commenting on the

successful seminar, Chris

Wood said: “It’s been a

very satisfying day and

the feedback has been

excellent. If you come to

these seminars you might

pick up that one tip that

can vastly improve your

job performance.”

Ian Smith was also

pleased that the seminar

catered for groundsmen at

all levels. “Just listening to

other people’s views has

been brilliant.”

For further information

about future seminars:

roger.moore@

dennisuk.com

You can see video of the day

including key interviews

with Ian Smith, Chris Wood,

Mike Gatting, David Roberts,

Stuart Kerrison and Vic

Demain on:

http://bit.ly/1Esgh5y

Headline sponsor Harrod Horticultural are

the headline sponsor for

the 2015 SGD awards.

Managing Director

Stephanie Harrod said:

“We have chosen to

sponsor these celebrated

awards as the SGD has

been championing

excellence in garden design

for over 30 years and we

feel this is the perfect fit

for our prestigious Harrod

Horticultural brand.

“Being the headline

sponsor for the 2015

SGD awards is a fantastic

opportunity for us to

showcase our award

winning UK designed and

manufactured range of

garden structures. Our trade

department has grown from

strength to strength since its

inception over 3 years ago.”

Trade Manager Andrew

Barringer commented: “It

is the culmination of a very

successful 2014, having been

awarded the principal award

for BALI (British Association

of Landscape Industries)

affiliate exceptional service

and coincided with the

company celebrating 60

years of successful UK design

and manufacture, being

awarded the Investors in

people gold status and

being recipients of the

RHS Chelsea Flower Show

product of the year.”

The awards will be held

in London in January 2016.

Page 12: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com12

News

Chelsea blooms Kelways Plants, one of the

oldest nurseries in the UK

who have been exhibiting

at RHS shows since 1880,

are preparing for their

greatest duo of exhibits at

the Chelsea Flower Show

ever. They will cover over

60m2 of that hallowed turf

in the Grand Pavilion.

Best known for their

peonies, Kelways 2015

exhibit will showcase some

of the more recent hybrids

of the Intersectional Group.

These wonderful plants,

crosses between tree

peonies and herbaceous

peonies, have lustrous

green foliage, a neat bushy

habit and large blooms

in an extraordinary range

of colours. Hilary with

enormous apricot blooms

is a showstopper. Callie’s

Memory has semi-double

flowers of buff orange with

dark red flares. Lollipop is

a crazy pale yellow bloom,

splattered randomly with

deep-pink paint splashes.

“After recently being

showcased by Charlie

Dimmock on the Great

British Garden Revival, it

will be great to bring these

fantastic garden plants to

Chelsea,” says Dave Root.

Kelways tree peonies

will take on a fresh twist for

the 2015 show. They will

be displayed in the style

of a Japanese peony garden

where paper parasols would

be placed above the plants

protecting them from

both the midday sun and

the snow. This part of the

exhibit will even be covered

in artificial snow for added

authenticity, and also a

touch of fun!

Alongside their floral

extravaganza of peonies

and irises will be Kelways

first ever exhibit of tree

ferns, representing

Australasia in the Floral

Continents area of the

Grand Pavilion. The exhibit

will be staged amongst a

grove of slender eucalyptus

trees which will tower to

6m nearly touching the roof

of the Grand Pavilion.

Kelways intend showing

at least 15 species of tree

ferns, including the rare

Cyathea robusta from

Lord Howe Island, and

some beautiful and slender

Cyathea cunninghamii,

the Gully Fern from both

Australia and New Zealand.

The exhibit will also feature

the Silver Tree Fern

Cyathea dealbata, the

National Emblem of New

Zealand, with its incredible

silver fronds.

Built for comfortThe SRM-420TES is the

latest offering from

ECHO’s high torque

range. Designed and

built exclusively for

professional operators,

this brushcutter utilises

multiple technologies to

enhance user productivity

and comfort.

With a 1:2.07 gear

reduction ratio, the SRM-

420TES’s high torque

gearbox spins the cutting

head one-and-a-quarter

turns per engine cycle and

delivers 50% more torque

than its predecessor. This

extra torque means that,

when fitted with heavier line,

the brushcutter can make

short work of even dense

bramble or brush without

losing head speed.

The cutting head on the

420TES has been upgraded

too. Now with an extra 7.6cm

of cutting radius, operators

can cut wider swathes,

reducing the number of

passes required to complete

the job at hand. Coupled

with ECHO’s ‘Tap & Go’ quick

line release system, the SRM-

420TES can quickly work

through larger areas with

few stops to load new line.

The 420TES benefits

from a new engine design.

Now stage 2 emission

compliant, the 41.5cc engine

boasts a power output of

1.78kW, over 10% more

than its predecessor. Engine

performance has been

further enhanced thanks to

a new air filter design.

Positioned at the rear

of the machine, away from

flying dirt and debris,

filtration has been greatly

improved, allowing for

smooth and efficient engine

performance. Access to the

filter is tool-free and the

cover can be removed and

fitted by hand, even when

the operator is wearing

work gloves.

A newly designed quick

hook-up and release harness

is featured on this U handle

brushcutter. This feature

allows the operator to easily

detach themselves from the

machine quickly should the

need arise.

The ECHO SRM-420TES

high torque brushcutter is

£649.17 (ex-VAT).

Page 13: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015
Page 14: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com14

News

New headline sponsor Following the success of

the 2014 BALI National

Landscape Awards in

December when over

850 guests attended,

BALI and its Awards

partner, Horticulture

Week, have announced

a new headline sponsor

for the event.

Industry supplier and

BALI affiliate member

Green-tech Ltd will take

over lead sponsorship of the

BALI National Landscape

Awards for three years,

starting this year.

Speaking about his

company’s decision to take

on the headline sponsorship

mantel, Green-tech’s

Chairman Richard Kay

said: “We are absolutely

delighted to have this

incredible opportunity to

show our commitment to

the landscape industry.

“Green-tech won the

Principal BALI Affiliate

Exceptional Service Award

in 2013 and we celebrated

our 20th anniversary in 2014.

The time is right to associate

the Green-tech name with

industry excellence across

all disciplines and ensure

that the BALI Awards go

from strength to strength.

“The Green-tech team

are enthusiastic supporters

of BALI and passionate

about the landscaping

sector as a whole;

sponsorship of the awards

ceremony in December is

a natural fit for the business.

The three year deal confirms

Green-tech’s commitment

to the association and its

members, to assist in

raising the profile of the

landscape industry as

a whole.”

BALI’s Chief Operations

Officer, Wayne Grills, is

looking forward to a new

era with Green-tech as

headline sponsor and

praised previous sponsor

Rigby Taylor’s involvement

since 2009: “The success

of the BALI Awards in

recent years is due, in no

small part, to the role of

the headline sponsor and

to our partnership with

Horticulture Week, who

have helped us deliver

a more professional and

industry-wide awards

process. I am delighted that

Green-tech have committed

to supporting the awards

at the highest level as

they have been staunch

supporters of BALI and its

members for 20 years by

sponsoring regional events.

“It is fitting that their

name, which is respected

across the industry, should

be associated with the

largest and most successful

landscape industry awards

in the UK and Europe. We

look forward to the new

dimension Green-tech’s

involvement will bring.”

The call for entries for

the 2015 BALI National

Landscape Awards will be

announced shortly. The

ceremony will, once again,

take place at the Grosvenor

House, London, on Friday

4th December.

T: 01892 890364E: [email protected] Engineering LtdPriory Farm • Parsonage LaneLamberhurst • Kent TN3 8DS

TOUGH TOOLSfor aTOUGH JOB!

Purchase direct from the UK Importer:

www.lameng.com

■ Mulching mowersfrom 10HP-350HP

■ Tough & versatile

■ Many attachmentsavailable for everyforestry job

BALI’s Chief Operations Manager Wayne Grills (left) with Green-tech’s Chairman Richard Kay

Page 15: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3315

News

Moss killer Sherriff Amenity’s Ferromex

– a high performance liquid

moss killer, has been given a

new license approval.

Spring is upon us, and the

new license for Ferromex

arrives at the perfect time to

tackle outbreaks of moss and

algae. Most groundsmen and

greenkeepers have trouble

with moss at some stage;

and this unsightly nuisance

can be caused by a number

of factors including poor

vigour, acidic soil conditions,

insufficient aeration, poor

drainage, shade, close

mowing, over-use and a

lack of feed.

Although there are many

products on the market

which claim to eradicate

moss, license approved

moss control products

are few and far between

due to the tough

registration process and

the rigorous health and

safety measures required.

It is also an expensive

commitment from any

manufacturers who want

to prove that the product

is of the highest quality.

The super concentrated

liquid is easy to mix and

users have peace of mind

knowing that the product

is extremely safe to use. For

maximum effect, it is advised

that Ferromex is applied

within the active growing

period of grasses from spring

to autumn.

Tool orders Toolstation launches new

range of petrol and battery

powered landscaping tools

Toolstation has launched

a new range of garden

landscaping tools in its

new catalogue.

The range features

both traditional petrol and

cordless battery powered

lawnmowers, chainsaws

and trimmers.

Headlining the front cover

is a 40V cordless lawnmower,

with battery and charger, for

only £199.90.

There is also a new range

of Einhell petrol powered

tools, including a 41cc

chainsaw with kick back

protection for only £109.45.

Toolstation has also

sharpened the prices on

hundreds of lines.

Pick up the catalogue from

one of Toolstation’s sales

counters across the UK or:

TEL freephone:

0808 100 7211

“Mobile friendly” number:

0330 333 3303

www.toolstation.com

Pedestrian

Distributedin the UK

exclusivelyby STM

For more information or to arrange a demonstration:Call 01789 488450 or e-mail [email protected]

The professional approach to ground care...

Ride-on

Cut and collect

Remote control

Page 16: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com16

News

Ornamental rocksCornish Landscaping

Granite is a small

independent partnership

offering a unique range

of weathered Cornish

granite boulders.

The granite boulders are

all different shapes and sizes,

from small ornamental to

large play and landscaping

features, such as those in

the award-winning Queen

Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The boulders have a

natural weathered non-slip

cortex which makes them

idealfeatures in play schemes.

The granites tend to

have a natural flat footprint.

This makes placing easy

and concrete foundations

unnecessary.

Cornish Landscaping

Granite have the experience

and expertise to do it safely

and efficiently and at the

right price.

These weathered Cornish

granite boulders are Play

England nominated.

For younger play schemes,

granites are selected with

one side or one end sloping

for easy access by toddlers.

The larger granites will allow

opportunity for group play.

Architects and designers

are welcome to visit the

farms to select granites for

garden and landscaping

schemes. This year, Cornish

Landscaping Granite

continues to work with

designers for the Chelsea

Flower Show.

01329 285 825

www.cornish

landscaping.co.uk

Wow festival

Founder of LodeStar music

festival, Doug Durrant,

had a lifelong vision of

creating an event with a

special atmosphere that

brought people together

in a beautiful place of

natural surroundings.

Through the help of

Limagrain UK, Doug has

achieved a truly stunning

setting for the festival to

take place.

On the southern edge of

the Cambridgeshire Fenland

lies a quaint and picturesque

village called Lode where

Doug and his family have

been farming since the

1930’s. However, once a year

it comes to life through a

music festival which unites

the community and brings

joy to people of all ages.

At this year’s event festival

goers were treated to sea of

red poppies.

In a fitting tribute to mark

the 100 year anniversary of

the start of the First World

War, Doug felt that Limagrain

UK’s WW1 Commemorative

Poppy mix would provide

LodeStar 2014 with a

poignant and memorable

display – the kind that

epitomises the ethos of

the festival.

The extraordinary array

of vivid red flowers were

created by Limagrain to

serve as a powerful reminder

of the great sacrifice made by

British and Commonwealth

people during WW1.

“I had seen photos of their

poppies in a trade magazine

and thought that not only

did they look fantastic

but the values behind the

mixture were in line with

those of our own.

“Having previously

purchased Limagrain’s

Douce France Colour

Splash mixture – which

added a great splash of

colour to the festival, I

decided to contact them

again,” said Doug.

Don’t miss Seeds and

Seeding in the next issue

of The Landscaper

020 8891 4850

Page 17: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3317

News

Young gardenersMakita UK is a sponsor of

Essex-based Writtle College

in support of their entry

in the Young Gardeners of

the Year competition. This

event is held annually at

the Ideal Home Show, 20

March-6 April, Olympia

Kensington, London.

One of several sponsors,

Makita has provided a full

package of power tools

suitable for hard landscaping

which includes circular

saws, belt sanders, routers

and planers, mitre saws and

jigsaws as well as a dust

extraction system.

Writtle College is one of

six colleges to compete –

Chichester College, Capel

Manor, Askham Bryan

College, Pershore College

and Shuttleworth College –

who will each build a

garden in a 5.5m x 4m plot

at the Show.

The contest, organised

by TV gardener David

Domoney in association

with the Prince’s Foundation

for Building Community, is

run to encourage the best

of young ‘green’ talent

among leading horticultural

colleges.

The show opens to the

public on Friday 20 March

and judging will take place

on the same day. The judging

panel includes horticulture

industry leaders, home

interest magazine editors

and acclaimed garden

designers. Entrants will

compete to win gold, silver

gilt, silver or bronze awards.

The overall winner will

receive the Best in Show

award and visitors will be

able to vote for the winner of

the People’s Choice Award.

Other supporters of

the Writtle team include

Collier & Catchpole, Global

Stone, D & B Scaffolding,

Millboard, Factorylux

and Provinder.

Safety firstConfirming his attendance

at the recently announced

second ‘BALI-NCF Coping

with Slopes’ event (Draycote

Water, Warwickshire, on

Thursday March 26th),

Simon Richard, UK Agent

for the Reform bank

tractor range and Sales

Agent for the Shibaura

SG280 slope mower, said:

“The response we

had at the first event last

October was excellent

and we look forward

to demonstrating our

equipment and discussing

with the visitors, the

operator safety benefits

when working at up to

45 degree angles.”

www.slopemower.co.uk

Page 18: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com18

News

Making space A new brand of garden

buildings and sheds is

now available in the UK.

Designed to take

centre stage in gardens,

Timeless Timber sheds

create additional living

space without the hassle

or expense of traditional

home extensions.

New homeowner

research shows that one in

five people in the UK can’t

find space to be alone in

their own home and have

considered constructing

garden buildings to create

much-needed ‘me space’.

Timeless Timber’s garden

buildings are constructed

to feel like homes on a

smaller scale, with floors

manufactured from pressure

treated timber joists – as

used in traditional home

construction – and overlaid

with a plywood floor which

has a slip resistant and easy

clean surface.

Walls are strong, load-

bearing and timber clad,

the roof is weather proof

for 20 years and all

Timeless Timber sheds

come with mortice locks

for security.

Intended to take

centre stage in a garden,

the sheds have a choice

of contemporary finishes

are strong, weather resistant,

secure and easily erected.

Prices start from £2,380

RRP.

Little Wonder it’s cutting it with professionalsThe Little Wonder Hydro BRC-26 brushcutter with hydrostatic drive is cutting it with professional landscapers, groundsmen and hire outlets. It rips through rough and tough weeds and brush at speeds up to 4.2mph with reduced fatigue for the operator. Constructed in welded steel with solid rod control and

Honda GXV390 engine, this is a brushcutter built to last.

Schiller Grounds Care 0800 840 0888 [email protected]

LWLAN315

Defining eventThe Invasive Non Native

Specialists Association

(INNSA) Conference

which is being held at the

Museum of Science and

Industry in Manchester

on 24th March will be a

defining event for the

invasive species industry.

The conference will mark

the launch of the INNSA

Code of Practice which will

set the industry standard for

the remediation of Japanese

Knotweed and other Non-

Native species. The code

will provide consumers and

property professionals with

peace of mind when dealing

with Code subscribers.

Kate Davies, the Chairman

of the Property Codes

Compliance Board (PCCB)

and Kate Faulkner, from

Designs on Property and a

fellow PCCB Board member

will launch the Code of

Practice and outline the

role the PCCB will have in

regulating the Code.

Jerry Fitzjohn from The

Property Ombudsman (TPO)

will also present on the role

TPO will play in providing

a redress mechanism for

consumers under the Code.

There will be many more

high profile guests and

speakers at the conference,

including industry experts

such as Rob Simpson from

BASIS and Professor Dr

John Bailey from Leicester

University.

Page 19: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3319

Walk-Behind Mowers

Walk-behind mowers fall

into a range of categories so

first up we need to establish

that we are considering

‘maintenance mowers’

designed to trim routinely

mown turf to includes

lawns, path boundaries

and amenity areas around

housing and public

buildings. All will collect

clippings but may offer the

ability to cut and drop or

possible mulch mow.

Next, landscapers face a

different set of demands to

those faced by contractors

tasked with mowing a

known area every season.

If you know what you need

to cut, and how often,

you can home in upon

exactly the right machine

or machines to do the

job. If you are creating

a new landscape within

which there is grass to be

maintained before a client

takes over you will clearly

need a mower to do the job.

So what do you choose?

To help, task one is

to establish:

• Frequency of mowing

Will you be mowing turf or

freshly seeded areas? Is the

grass variety one with slow

growth rates? What time of

year is it? How many times

will you need to mow the

area before responsibility

is passed to someone else?

• Area to be mown

This covers size, location

and aspect. Three short

words that cover a broad

range of demands that can

have a significant impact

when it comes to selecting

the right mower.

• Desired finish and

quality of cut

Do you need to cut and

collect, leave a striped finish

or can you just cut and drop?

If your needs are for very

occasional mowing duties,

look at hiring a mower or

paying someone to do the

work for you. The once

familiar practice of buying

in a ‘domestic’ mower to

do the job can work if the

machine can be relied upon

to meet limited demands

but in practice professional

mowing can soon highlight

why even a high end

domestic mower may not

be fit for purpose. Two

typical issues include

mowing speed and collector

capacity but hand arm

vibration levels can all be too

high for extended operation.

VERSATILITY – THE LANDSCAPER’S FRIENDA grass mowing contractor

can, as previously outlined,

home in on a mower design

that will suit specific needs.

If you are not over sure

of what you will need a

pedestrian mower to do

then it will pay to seek out a

machine that can cope with a

range of different challenges.

A top professional mower

should be able to cut and

collect damp, long grass.

What do you want from a pedestrian

rotary mower?When trying to select the right mower you will need to consider

cutting width, power unit, drive system, collector capacity, noise levels, hand arm vibration, durability, cutting height, cut and drop, mulch mowing

and weight. As to price, expect a professional mower to cost upwards of £700, a mid £1,400 budget typically securing a versatile professional model.

But what do you need? James de Havilland reports

Remove the grass box and take a look at the rear deck aperture. A large and unobstructed opening will suggest good

performance collecting longer, wet clippings.

Page 20: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com20

Walk-Behind Mowers

It should be able to distribute

mown clippings in a

controlled way.

Mulch mowing is still

misunderstood but it is a

technique that can be really

useful to landscapers. If the

area to be mown needs to be

well presented in the period

between establishment and

handover, regular mulch

mows can really work well as

it can help conserve moisture

and so reduce the need

to water establishing turf.

Those who sell a mower that

can mulch can fail to remind

end users that mulching

is best done following the

third cut rule – you should

mow just a third of the sward

height, with two-thirds

remaining. In other words

reduce an inch to two thirds

of an inch and you will get a

good finish. Little and often

is the other key to mulch

mow success.

Selecting the right mower

will need you to ask relevant

questions. Consider some of

the following to get an idea

of what can help.

• Big deck aperture

When considering any

collector mower, the less

there is between the deck

and clippings box the more

likely it is that the mower will

be able to cope with longer

and wetter grass. Some 3 in

1 designs are compromised,

collection deteriorating in

challenging conditions.

• True mulching ability

If you take a look at a

dedicated mulching deck

you will note it is shaped

differently from a straight

cut or cut and collect

mower. Mulching needs the

clippings cut by the blade to

be further processed so they

fall back into the sward as a

light mulch. This processing

needs room within the deck

and the right blade to be

really effective.

• A decent grass box

Consider both the volume of

a grass box and how well it

fills. Some designs are large

but the manner in which

material enters the box

means it is not packed in, so

wasting volume. Further, a

good grass box will be easy

to clean. The vent holes in a

grass box need to be open

to allow air to exit. Blocked

vents stop the collector

filling to capacity.

• Box full indicators

It can be tricky to know

when it is time to empty a

grass box. An indicator, that

will alert the operator when

the box is nice and full, can

really have a positive impact

upon productivity.

Chunky aluminium decks are designed to resist the rigours of rough mowing but a good light alloy can also be pretty tough. The Xenoy material Etesia employs on its Pro models is tough enough to take a hammer blow without any problem.

Controls will range from a basic ‘deadman’ handle and throttle through to blade brakes and selectable drive speeds. Look for well routed cables that will not snag and good ergonomics. The longer the operator spends mowing the more it will pay to invest in the right mower.

Grass boxes come in a wide range of sizes and will include net and solid ‘ventilated’ designs. Ease of cleaning, secure location with simplified removal are key features but a fill

indicator can really help make the most of available capacity.

Page 21: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3321

Walk-Behind Mowers

• Ease of grass box

emptying

A grass box can be heavy

when full. If the operator

struggles to get the box

on and off then it makes

mowing more difficult than

it should be. A well-designed

‘heavy’ box full of clippings

will be easier to work than

something that is lighter

but a fiddle to empty,

remove or replace.

• Cleaning

The underside of mowing

decks can get completely

blocked with clippings. If

cleaning the deck is easy

the job will get done. If it is a

fiddle and there are clipping

traps, the mower will suffer.

• Power

Mowers designed to

maintenance mow regularly

cut turf may have an engine

that has less in reserve for

dealing with long wet grass.

Talk to your supplying dealer

and ensure the machines you

consider have the power to

deal with the worst you will

throw at them.

• Push or powered

A push mower is simplest

and ideally suited to short

mowing runs and working

around obstacles. Top end

domestic mowers may

well be offered with drive

but these may not be fast

enough for professional

mowing. A multi-speed

mechanical will deliver a

range of forward speeds,

allowing the operator to

work at apace that suits

productivity and quality of

cut. Hydrostatic drive will

cost more but it will also

allow the operator to select

the right speed for all types

of work.

• Drive traction and

push ability

A mower with drive that

can be freewheeled is well

suited to landscaper work.

Traction will depend upon

the size of the driven wheels.

If you need to mow slopes,

consider a mower with

bigger traction wheels. It

is also possible to select a

mower with a differential

lock. This will ensure the

driven wheels do not revert

to a single drive wheel in

poor going.

• Blade protection

A system that allows the

blade to hit a solid object

without transferring a shock

load to the engine can make

the difference between a

big bill or a few minutes

downtime.

Other issues should

include mower size and

weight. No point buying a

mower that will not fit into

a van or is too heavy for two

people to lift onto a vehicle.

Operating noise can be an

issue. Engine and blade noise

will differ between mower

models, so try and work

different machines around

buildings. Battery power is

worth considering but this

type of mower will still have

blade noise to consider.

Professional pedestrian

mowers are designed to

work for extended periods.

You are paying for durable,

dependable performance

that should see a well-

cared for mower lasting for

a number of seasons. The

cheapest mower you can

buy is the one that costs

the least to operate.

With thanks to Etesia UK Ltd

Width and weight, left, needs to also be matched to versatility and features, such as available cut heights. Etesia offer around 18 different pedestrian models with working widths from 46 to 53cm and a price range that goes from around £700 to just shy of £2,500.

The best mower is the one that is right for your specific needs. A rugged powerful model is great for some jobs, a £1,400 battery-powered unit ticking all the right boxes for others. Time taken selecting the right mower is never wasted.

Page 22: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com22

Walk-Behind Mowers Advertorial

Wide Area MowerThe Cub Cadet Wide Area

Mower (model WIDECUTE)

tackles even large properties

quickly and with ease.

It is designed to be heavy-

duty but easy to manoeuver

with a convenient electric

start. With its strong Briggs

& Stratton OHV engine it

is powered for longevity.

Wheel drive with four

forward gears and one

reverse gear, makes mowing

even large properties fun.

The front castor wheels

of the Wide Area Mower

ensure nimble mowing and

360 turns.

The deck is designed

for two functions in one

machine: side discharge

and mulching. The round

deep domed deck design

guarantees a

perfect air

� ow for superior mulching

results. Without changing

the blades or the need for

tools you can switch to side

discharge within no time.

In the side discharge mode

you can even cut higher

grass, weed and meadows.

Speci� cations WIDE CUT E:Mowing area 2000 m2 /

hourEngine B&S 3105 Series

OHV, 344 ccNominal power 6,5 kW /

2900 min-1Starting Electric startNumber of speeds

4 fwd. / 1 rev.Speed (max) 1,8 - 5,7 km/hCutting width 84 cmCutting height (min-max)

25 - 100 mmMulching Standard

Side discharge

StandardNotes to

EditorCub Cadet

For decades Cub

Cadet has been building lawn

mowers, lawn and garden

tractors, zero-turn mowers,

snow throwers and utility

vehicles that work harder and

perform better than other

products in the industry.

With a history of

innovation, Cub Cadet is

committed to developing

products for today and

tomorrow to continue the

brand attributes of premium

quality, high performance

and revolutionary products.

Cub Cadet o� ers the

widest range of ride-on

mowers from the 700 Series

value range to the Premium

1000 and 2000 series high

end models right through

to the revolutionary zero

turn machines. There are

further ranges of Miniriders

and robotic mowers and

bene� cial equipment like

leaf vacuums, tillers and

UTVs. The innovative, dealer

exclusive, Cub Cadet

rotary models

feature the

unique concept of

a steel deck with

aluminium front

and rear ends

and have been designed for

reliability and durability with

comfort for prolonged use.

Cub Cadet Wide Area

Mower. RRP: £1,699.00

For further information visit

www.cubcadet.co.uk

EP Barrus Ltd has a strong sales,

distribution and engineering

focus with over 95 years’

experience of trading. Barrus

has developed partnerships

with major international

companies representing

leading brands in the garden

machinery and garden tools,

marine, and industrial engine

markets. Yanmar diesel

inboard engines, Mariner and

Mercury outboard engines, Cub

Cadet and Lawn� ite garden

machinery, Wolf and Wilkinson

Sword garden tools, John

Deere and Yanmar industrial

engines are among the wide

range of equipment currently

in the Barrus portfolio. Barrus

also custom build products

to speci� c end-uses or market

requirements; whether for the

MoD, RNLI, HM Coastguard

or Original Equipment

Manufacturers.

For further information

visit www.barrus.co.uk

Page 23: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3323

Walk-Behind Mowers

Seeing is believingGreenway House • Sugarswell Business Park • Shenington • Oxon OX15 6HW

Tel: 01295 680120 • email: [email protected]

www.etesia.co.uk

Unrivalled ‘Cut &Collect’ reliability

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Etesia ride-on mowers are trusted for their quality, efficiency and excellent cutting

capability in all weather.

Etesia UK @EtesiaUK EtesiaUK

We use Etesia because it’s the best machine on the market

for the job we need it for.Derrick Robertson, Barton Grange Landscape's

Yard and Machinery Manager

“”

Now available

with a3 Year

WarrantyTerms & Conditions apply

Dennis and SISIS have

returned to home soil

following an extremely

successful Golf Industry

Show (GIS) in San Antonio,

Texas, where the new SISIS

Flexi400 was the star of

the show.

‘Where Big Things

Happen’ is the motto of the

world famous GIS event and

it proved to ring true for the

turf maintenance equipment

giants after being inundated

with quality enquiries.

The SISIS Flexi400, which

was introduced to the US

market for the very first

time at the event, was of

particular interest to many

superintendents who made

their way to the Henry B.

Gonzalez Convention Center.

It proved to be so popular

that one eager visitor, who

couldn’t wait to get his hands

on the machine, purchased

the very one that was being

showcased on the stand.

After its successful UK

launch at BTME in January, it is

easy to see why the Flexi400

was such an instant hit at the

GIS. Specifically designed for

fast and effective coverage

on large areas such as golf

fairways and sports grounds,

the new 4m wide Flexi400 is

an interchangeable unit with

seven fully floating heads

which allows it to follow

ground contours. The unit can

be fitted with either a roller

or brush heads and is ideal for

the removal of dew, striping

for improved presentation,

lifting grasses prior to cutting

or brushing in top dressings.

It is attachable to the tow

unit by a simple 50mm ball

hitch or clevis pin and both

arms can be raised for ease of

storage or transportation.

Although the spotlight

may have fallen on the

new Flexi400, interest was

still rife amongst the

other Dennis and SISIS

machines on the stand, which

have proved to be consistent,

top performers and relied

upon by superintendents,

groundsmen and green-

keepers around the world.

The impressive line-up

included favourites such as

the SISIS Rotorake 600HD

– a heavy duty pedestrian

scarifier and linear aerator; the

tractor mounted SISIS Veemo

MK 2 – perfect for removing

thatch from large areas

of turf such as golf course

fairways; the Dennis FT510 –

engineered to maintain areas

of fine turf with a range of 11

Where big things happenFlying the flag for British turf maintenance equipment

Page 24: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com24

Walk-Behind Mowers

different heads and the SISIS

Auto Rotorake MK5 – a self-

propelled heavy duty scarifier

for the removal and control

of thatch.

The GIS attracts visitors

from not just across the US

but also Europe, Asia and

South America and offers

leading manufacturers

the opportunity to put the

best machinery in front of a

worldwide audience.

As Dennis and SISIS

continue to fly the flag for

British turf maintenance

equipment, their appearance

at global exhibitions such

as GIS, is testament to its

commitment and rapid

growth in the export market.

Don’t miss Ride-on Mowers in the next issue of The Landscaper 020 8891 4850 [email protected]

Page 25: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

COVER STORY

NEW DIGITAL MAGAZINE

SALTEX 2015PRICELESSMARCH 2015

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GETTING THE FULL VALUE FROM THE SHOW

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Page 26: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

SALTEX 2015Saltex 2015 is a digital magazine produced by Curtis Media Ltd – publishers of The Landscaper.

The magazine will provide readers with a regular update on all the news and developments associated with IOG SALTEX. It will also included in the printed editions of The Landscaper October and November editions.

editor / publisherDavid Curtistel: 020 8891 485007780 967735 (m)[email protected]

featuresCarol DuttonJames de Havilland

commercial managerMatthew Curtistel: 020 8891 [email protected]

multimedia and videotel: 020 8891 [email protected]

circulation and subscriptionstel: 020 8891 [email protected]

Curtis Media Ltd Grand Prix House,102-104 Sheen Road,Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1UF

LANDSCAPERTHE

IF YOU TAKING A STAND AT THIS EXCITING EVENT MAKE SURE YOU REACH

THE MASSIVE DIGITAL READERSHIP OF

It will be updated and distributed every month from now until November and featured on

www.landscapermagazine.comPlease send editorial information to David Curtis

020 8891 4850 [email protected]

SALTEX 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com26

Page 27: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3327

SALTEX 2015

It’s going to be big! SALTEX 2015 has seen a

huge amount of exhibitor

bookings from a wide range

of sectors in recent weeks.

Companies representing

forestry, play, groundscare

machinery, artificial

surfaces, natural turf and

landscaping products can

all be seen by visiting the

NEC, 4-5 November.

The most recent exhibitors

to confirm their presence

include Inturf, Barenbrug,

Boughton Loam and

Turf, STIHL GB, Etesia UK,

Wiedenmann UK, BLEC

Global, Grillo Agrigarden,

Amazone, Trimax, Briggs

and Stratton, Polaris

Commercial, Bowcom,

Melcourt Industries, Vale

Engineering, Tyre-Line,

Muck Truck UK, Duralock,

Harrod UK, S & C Slatter,

Pitchmark, AE Evans,

Myerscough College,

Wicksteed Playgrounds

and Playmaintain.

Playmaintain managing

director Gavin Crane said:

“I am really excited to be

bringing Playmaintain

to SALTEX 2015, not only

do we see this as an ideal

opportunity to build our

brand by showcasing the

services which we offer

but also to meet and

build relationships with

prospective clients.”

Melcourt Industries is

a leading UK supplier of

mulches, growing media,

play surfaces, soil improvers,

and other products based

on natural materials and as

a frequent SALTEX exhibitor,

managing director Andy

Chalmers believes that the

new location brings more

opportunities to exhibitors:

“We’ve been exhibiting

at SALTEX for many years and

having now moved location

we believe the show will be

re-invigorated. It will offer a

better visitor experience and

give us a good chance

of meeting new customers

and contacts,” he said.

Commenting on STIHL

GB’s plans for SALTEX

2015, Simon Hewitt, head

of marketing, said: “STIHL

will be showcasing our

extensive low noise cordless

tool range at the NEC,

including even more hard-

working new models for

professionals this year. We

look forward to meeting

familiar and new contacts

at this year’s event, and will

follow with interest this bold

move for the show.”

This year will see Inturf

celebrating its 30th

anniversary and joint

managing director, Alex

Edwards, is upbeat about the

exhibition’s new location.

“We have been sharing a

stand with three other well

respected and established

companies at SALTEX for

some years now, enjoying a

good level of enquiries. We

think it’s a better location to

attract a wider audience and

should be less susceptible

to the vagaries of the British

weather,” he said.

The new show format will

incorporate a wide range

of educational seminars

and turf debates, the

unique ‘Ask The Expert’ turf

management clinic, and for

the first time, will combine

with the IOG’s annual

Conference and Awards.

Page 28: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com28

SALTEX 2015

They virtually launched

their business at a Saltex

exhibition nearly thirty

years ago, so SCH (Supplies)

Ltd can consider themselves

semi experts on the show

and its history.

Having spent many a year

caked in mud, half frozen,

they are looking forward to

being in the warm and dry

NEC for the 2015 exhibition.

“I have seen a few changes

over the years,” says SCH

managing director,

Andrew Rodwell. “There

are positive and negatives

of course, there are a lot

more end users coming

to the show now –

groundsmen, landscapers

and so on. Looking back

at previous shows and the

machines that SCH have

had on their stand, brings

home to me how much

we have adapted to the

changing times.”

• LED 12v and mains voltage • Designed for hard or soft landscaping• Extremely tough • UV & frost resistant

• Available in several realistic stone finishes• Made in Britain

E: [email protected]: 01638 577745

www.stoneglobelights.co.uk

Exceeding expectationsSALTEX 2015 is set to

become bigger and better

with the announcement that

the show has now moved

into a third hall at the NEC

in Birmingham.

Organisers of the 2015

show, which is being held

on 4 and 5 November,

have extended the show

footprint to accommodate

the increasing number of

the world-class exhibitors

that have now confirmed

their presence.

Since the floorplan was

released in mid-November,

more than 120 exhibitors

have signed up to SALTEX’s

new indoor format –

confirming that it is a positive

move for the industry.

Commenting on SALTEX’s

hall expansion, show

organiser Brintex sales

director John Gibson said:

“With an additional 30

companies provisionally

holding spaces and halls

8 & 7 almost sold out, we

are delighted to announce

the show’s expansion into

hall 6. This will enable us to

accommodate well over 200

exhibitors, which allows us to

promote a very broad range

of top brand products and

services to this year’s visitors.”

Geoff Webb, CEO of the

Institute of Groundsmanship,

said, “Industry support of

SALTEX 2015’s new date and

location has already exceeded

expectations. Many of the

sector’s biggest

names have signed

up to the show

– many of which

have taken large

stands to launch

new products,”

he said.

SALTEX’s new

date will also

be outside of a

September events

congestion which

sees other exhibitions such

as Four Oaks, GaLaBau and

Demo Dagen taking place.

The most recent exhibitors

include Everris, Makita,

Limagrain UK, Schiller

Grounds Care, Fleet Line

Markers, Countrywide Turf

and Amenity, Lister Wilder,

Nomix Enviro, The Childrens

Playground Company,

Border Sports Services,

Kanga Loaders and Lloyds

Hunter, who became the

100th company to sign-up.

quality equipment for

turf professionals, and this

position was enhanced when

it acquired Hunters Precision

Grinders, which specialises in

relief and spin grinders.

Commenting on the

company’s long-standing

presence at SALTEX,

managing director Clive

Nottingham, said: “I’m

delighted to hear that we

are the only company to

have exhibited at every

SALTEX since it began. We

are big supporters of the

exhibition and are looking

forward to seeing the show’s

new format.”

Changing times

Page 29: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3329

Advertorial

Cub Cadet is delighted

to introduce the TANK™SZ60,

an unwavering commercial

addition to its award-winning

range of ride-on tractors.

The TANK™SZ60, a zero-

turn lawn tractor with the

welcome extra of a steering

wheel, has been specifically

designed for professional

everyday use, particularly

over challenging terrain, and

is ideally suited to properties

with up to 20 acres. Its

unrivalled manoeuvrability,

stability, durability and

comfort really makes the

TANK™SZ60 stand out from

the crowd.

INCREDIBLE MANOEUVRABILITY AND CONFIDENCEUnrivalled stability and

precision control with

four-wheel steering delivers

a quality cut even on 20

degree inclines where

other ride-on mowers may

struggle. It’s easy to see what

makes the TANK™SZ60 the

clear choice in commercial

zero-turns.

UNBEATABLE CORROSION PROTECTION AND DURABILITYAn electronically-applied

dual layer of e-coat and

powder provides superior

protection against

unforgiving environmental

conditions and ensures that

even the most complex

parts are evenly coated. This

precise, multi-step process

delivers automotive-grade

corrosion resistance.

PROFESSIONAL GRADE COMFORTA high-back elasticity

vibration control (EVC)

comfort seat with arm rests

is a comfortable place to

spend hours of productive

mowing. The soft grip steering

wheel can be positioned to

suit the operator using the

quick adjusting steering

column and the power

steering manoeuvres the

TANKSZ60 through even

the sharpest corners.

The Cub Cadet TANK™SZ60

is powered by a commercial

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Series V-Twin OHV engine,

which delivers higher

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system and a premium

cooling system also provide

a durable, long-life machine.

Cub Cadet Garden

Machinery is only sold

through specially selected

dealers who are dedicated

to providing the best before

and after sales service.

Stands out from the crowd

Zero-turn lawn tractor with the welcome extra of a steering wheel

To find your nearest dealer and for more information:

0845 270 7603

www.cubcadet.co.uk

Page 30: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015
Page 31: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3331

Education

“I used to be in farming,”

says David Hymas, owner

of DH Multi Services, a

domestic and commercial

landscaping company

operating in north

Yorkshire. “The family

farm went bankrupt and

I started this company in

2002 with nothing.”

David took various

horticultural courses and

gained hard landscaping

skills from qualified members

of the building trade. He

now has specialist teams

concentrating on either the

domestic or commercial sides

of the business and is proud

of the fact that last year

DH Multi Services gained

Bradstone Assurance and

became CHAS accredited.

“To my mind experience

is worth more than

qualifications but the

important thing is attitude.

When I’m looking for staff I’m

looking for a man who’s got

something about him and

who’s willing to get on. You

can teach anyone as long as

they’ve got the right work

ethic and are willing to learn.”

David bemoans the

cost of advertising for staff

in the local paper and is

considering contacting

his nearest agricultural

college to enquire about

apprenticeships. According

to the government website

(www.apprenticeships.gov.uk)

grants of £1,500 are still

available to companies with

less than 50 employees and

can be granted for up to

five apprentices.

The employer must pay

the minimum wage during

the apprentices’ placement,

which could last from one

Education 2015 qualifications versus

experienceTime was when we chose our careers, gained the necessary qualifications

and joined the workforce. But in a constantly changing world of career hopping, redundancies and daily advances in science and technology

just how important are qualifications as opposed to experience?

Willerby Landscapes

DH Multi Services

Page 32: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com32

Education

Myerscough College apprentices working at Foxcroft

Mature students from Capel Manor College

Page 33: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3333

Education

to four years and during this

time the trainee must study

for work based quali� cations

during his or her working

week. He or she will also

be expected to work with

experienced sta� learning

job speci� c skills.

Employers like David who

are willing to train their sta�

and pay decent wages could

bene� t from the scheme

and add to their company’s

skilled workforce.

Lee Price, Employer

Services Manager at

Myerscough College, who

are currently supporting

800 to 1,000 apprentices

in the horticultural sector

(which includes landscaping

and sports turf) says that

around 90% of them remain

with their employers after

training. “It’s extremely rare

that they’re not kept on,” he

reports. “It’s the exception

rather than the rule.”

BALI award winning

Willerby Landscapes used

apprentices during its Queen

Elizabeth Olympic Park

contract and has a positive

attitude to sta� training.

Director John Melmoe

agrees with David Hymas

that when recruiting sta�

the candidate’s approach

and willingness to learn are

all important. “Experience

comes � rst and quali� cations

can follow,” he says. “Last

year we needed an HGV

driver, and although we

found the right man he had

no formal quali� cations. We

immediately put him through

an intensive course.”

John, whose education

at Merrist Wood College

combined practical

experience with theory,

entered the industry and

was employed by a large

company until a series

of circumstances lead to

the formation of Willerby

Landscapes.

“The organisation I worked

for was divided into three

businesses,” he remembers,

“and as the landscaping

section was the least

pro� table we were all made

redundant. I stayed on for a

while mopping things up but

basically Willerby Landscapes

was established from my

previous company. We had

a ready made experienced

sta� and 12 to 18 months

contracting work all ready

to ful� ll.”

During the 1970s and

80s a large percent of the

work� ow was generated

by the now defunct Greater

London Council (GLC).

“People don’t realise the

reach of the GLC,” John

continues. “They weren’t just

involved with the capital,

but new townships around

the country which provided

major work for landscapers

and constructors.”

Following the GLC’s

demise the supermarket

boom in 1985/1986 provided

the next opportunity for

new business and Willerby

Landscapes continued to

prosper. Although John’s role

is more managerial these

days he recognises that “this

is a practical based industry”.

“The great thing is that

it’s very welcoming and very

versatile,” says Sarah Seery,

Head of Horticulture at

Capel Manor College. “This

industry embraces people

coming in through many

di� erent routes.”

Sarah, who is now on her

third career having worked

with one of the large high

street recruitment agencies

prior to a managerial role

with English Nature (now

Natural England) and

coming into horticulture in

her early 40s thinks that life

is about changes.

“I wanted to do something

di� erent and now I’m at

my desk for two days a

week and working outside

teaching, for three. A lot

of our mature students

say that they want to work

outside or they want to work

with plants and acquiring

quali� cations gives them the

con� dence to change their

career. If they’re starting

a business for themselves

quali� cations will in� uence

the way they communicate

with customers and give

customers con� dence in

the business.”

This con� dence born

of achievement is also

important for young people

attending college for

Gillian Temple Associates

Page 34: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com34

Education

two or three years and

reassuring for potential

employers, she explains.

“A certi� cate or diploma not

only demonstrates that a

candidate has strong skills

but also that they are reliable

and determined enough to

complete the course.”

James Gallagher who

runs Churchill Landscapers,

his own successful small

family business in East

London began working in

the industry to earn money

before going travelling.

“I travelled abroad when

I was eighteen and nineteen

and when I came back I found

a company that was prepared

to train people on the job,”

he recalls. “In this business

you need a lot of knowledge

– hard landscaping, soft

landscaping, tur� ng, planting

and plant identi� cation. I

used to hire someone I � rst

met at a nursery. He knew

everything about plants

including their Latin names.”

James thinks there are a

lot of people who don’t go to

college. “I use self employed

people who I’ve worked

with and trust. Most of my

customers want a simple low

maintenance garden but

if they want a complete

design I’ll bring in a fully

quali� ed designer.”

In contrast Mike Goodall,

a founding director with

award winning OOBE

Landscape Architects based

in Newcastle upon Tyne, took

a relatively conventional

educational route acquiring

A levels in geography, biology

and art before studying for

a BSc in Landscape Design

and Ecology at She� eld

University. After leaving

university he joined Insite

Environments, a small design

based practice in Newcastle,

which later merged with

SLR consulting and from

here, along with three other

directors he established

OOBE in 2010.

“The company we were

working for merged with a

much larger concern and

after a few years we decided

to set up our own practice,”

he says. “Since then we

haven’t looked back. We’ve

got a new London o� ce and

are picking up some exciting

projects both here in the UK

and abroad.”

Looking back on his

education Mike values the

fact that She� eld University

required him to undertake a

year out in industry before

going back to complete

his diploma in Landscape

Architecture. “This was

pivotal for me,” he says, “and

not all routes to becoming a

Landscape Architect require

it. We’re now recruiting

and there can be quite a

di� erence between those

candidates who have this

experience and those who

don’t.”

Mike thinks that people

leaving the profession

may do so because of the

long hours and perhaps

an expectation of working

outside. “Whilst rewarding,

this work can be generally

o� ce based and many

people don’t realise that.”

Gillian Temple MI Hort. and

a Registered Member of the

Society of Garden Designers

(SGD) left her Landscape

Architecture four year degree

course after one year. “I felt

that the course was very

much aimed at working with

Local Authorities on urban

infrastructure rather than

horticulture,” she explains.

Having grown up with

her father’s business,

(Paul Temple is a founder

member of the Institute of

Horticulture and the Society

of Garden Designers) Gillian

went back and worked with

her dad. “It was like a 13 year

apprenticeship,” she says.

“We employed about 40

people and covered a wide

landscaping range including

design, build and installation,

maintenance and interior

landscape design.”

Usually the company

would produce two Chelsea

gardens, one for themselves

and one for somebody else.

“I was surrounded by so

many skilled people and

when I was designing there

was always someone to ask.

‘Can I have a water feature

here?’ for instance or I’d

talk to a bricky about a hard

landscaping project. When

you’re in that situation and OOBE Landscape Architects

Page 35: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3335

Education

you need an answer, you

remember it.”

Gillian ended up running

the whole contract side

of the business and when

her father retired formed

Gillian Temple Associates, a

landscape design company

based in Kent and Sussex.

Now, having been

awarded a gold medal at

Chelsea and a member of

the Institute of Horticulture

and a registered member of

the SGD for over 25 years she

hates the fact that “anybody

can call themselves a garden

designer” without the

quali� cations or experience.

“Some people look upon

it as a paid hobby. They’ve

maybe done a six week or

three month adult learning

course on ‘How to design

your own garden’ got a

certi� cate and then go round

undercutting everybody else.

In this situation a written

quali� cation is dangerous.”

If a little knowledge is

a dangerous thing then

perhaps the answer is to

go on learning. Mark Yates,

careers coordinator at Writtle

College says that their short

courses team is training

people who are already

working, (in chainsaw use

and pesticides for example)

and helping employers keep

their sta� up to date.

“Our courses range

from apprenticeships to

Landscape Design degrees

and there’s a variety of work

out there with a huge range

of opportunity. We’re aiming

to make the workforce better

trained and raise people’s

aspirations and skill levels.”

On the subject of mature

students Mark thinks that

the variety of skills and

knowledge they’ve already

acquired gives them the

ability to change career. “If

someone’s coming from

retail into horticulture for

example they’ll have learnt

about making good client

relationships which will help

should they start their own

businesses. It’s all about

drawing out transferrable

skills and gaining skills they

haven’t got.”

While further training may

be inappropriate for some

(Landscape Architects for

instance who need to be

highly quali� ed in the � rst

place) other sectors of the

industry have nothing to

lose. Whether you’re a young

trainee apprentice, a mature

student looking to change

your career or an employer

who wants to educate or

up date his or her sta�

quali� cations (apart from

the garden design certi� cates

described by Gillian Temple)

never hurt anyone. According

to Mark, “the more you learn

the more you want to carry

on learning.”

Unfortunately experience,

along with the right attitude

and a solid work ethic can’t

be taught.

Young students from Writtle College

Page 36: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com36

Education

Lafarge Tarmac

launches apprenticeship

recruitment drive.

As the UK celebrates

National Apprenticeship

Week, Lafarge Tarmac –

the UK’s leading sustainable

building materials and

construction solutions

company – has launched

its annual recruitment

programme to find 75

new apprentices.

As part of the company’s

commitment to supporting

skills, inspiring young

people and helping the

UK construction industry

develop a talented

and diverse workforce,

Lafarge Tarmac will offer

apprenticeship opportunities

to youngsters across many

of its 330 UK sites.

Commenting on the

launch of the apprenticeship

recruitment programme,

Cyrille Ragoucy, CEO of

Lafarge Tarmac, said:

“We’re passionate

about creating a lasting

skills legacy. I believe that

our commitment to learning

and innovation means we

are well placed to offer

expert support and guidance

to nurture skills and kick-

start successful, high quality

careers.

“Our apprenticeships

are a great opportunity

for candidates to gain a

nationally-recognised

qualification and develop

practical experience in

a dynamic industry.”

Skills Minister Nick

Boles said:

“Apprenticeships make

absolute business sense

while providing life changing

opportunities for young

people across the country.

I am therefore delighted

that Lafarge Tarmac

is to employ 75 new

apprenticeships. I would

urge employers of all sizes

to follow Lafarge Tarmac’s

lead and to consider

how they can make

apprenticeships part of

their growth strategy.”

Opportunities at Lafarge

Tarmac are available in a wide

range of specialisms from

mechanical and electrical

apprenticeships, to lab

technicians, management

trainees and road operatives.

The business will also be

hiring six higher apprentices,

who will be offered a work-

based learning programme

within the aggregates and

quarrying business that

leads to a nationally

recognised qualification.

The David Colegrave

Foundation (DCF) has

awarded six students

£8,000 worth of Sponsored

Scholarships.

WYEVALE GARDEN CENTRES Sponsored Scholarship

winner Claire Brassington,

31, from Much Wenlock,

Shropshire, is currently

studying for a diploma

in Garden Design at

Pershore (Warwickshire)

College in Worcestershire,

following a diploma

in Horticulture.

Claire has seven years

experience in working in

garden centres and the

retail environment, and

has won several garden

display awards.

Pippa Hawkins, Training

Manager at Wyevale Garden

Centres, says:

“We are thrilled to support

Claire with her continued

development in Garden

Design, and hope she

enjoys the challenge of

the programme.”

SWGS Sponsored Scholarship

winner Alastair Arnold, 32,

from Warwick, Warwickshire,

is currently studying for

a MSc. Horticulture Crop

Production at Writtle College

in Essex, following a BSc

Horticulture.

Alastair aims to work in

commercial horticulture

as a grower or production

manager, and has won

awards for Best Commercial

Student and the Gardeners

Company Prize.

Kirsty Lane, South West

Growers Show, says:

“It really was a tough

decision as all of the

candidates put forward

were of an excellent

standard and all deserving

of the scholarship.

“However, after much

deliberation and careful

consideration, we selected

Alistair Arnold. We feel he is

committed, of a high calibre

and will help fill the skills

gap in commercial

production horticulture.”

PETER SEABROOKThe Peter Seabrook /

BPOA Bursary winners

Stephen Massam, 29, from

Southport,Lancashire, and

Nathan Johnson, 21 from

Tarleton, Lancashire are

both currently studying

at Myerscough College

in Lancashire and have a

strong interest in commercial

horticulture.

Stephen is completing a

NVQ level 3 in Production

Horticulture as well as a

degree level qualification

‘Master of Horticulture’ with

the RHS, while also working

as a grower at Lovania

Nurseries.

Nathan is completing

an NVQ level 2 Diploma

Opportunity knocks! Wanted: 75 new apprentices – develop and gain practical experience

‘£8,000 worth of

sponsored scholarship’

‘Students win £8,000 of DCF

Sponsored Scholarships’

Page 37: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3337

Education

in Horticulture while also

working as an apprentice

grower at Lovania Nurseries.

Peter Seabrook,

Scholarship Sponsor and

DCF Trustee says:

“It is really encouraging

for us to see such a good

number of applicants for

this award with many worthy

of our support, to the point

we have had to share the

award this year.”

Simon Davenport,

Chairman of the BPOA,

commented:

“We are very pleased

to see again a high level

of participation by young

people and apprentices

working in nursery

production companies.

“The winners will definitely

benefit in their years ahead

in this business from the

opportunity with financial

support and personal

mentoring that this award

can give them.”

FLORANOVA Sponsored Scholarship

winner Opal Rowe, 31,

from Glasgow, Scotland,

is currently studying for a

BSc Horticulture at SRUC

in Edinburgh.

Opal works voluntarily

at Glasgow Botanic Gardens

and is looking to work in

the field of research. She

would particularly like to

breed a new variety of

ornamental plant.

Mark Leivers, the

Production Director at

Floranova says:

“Opal Rowe is clearly

passionate about plants.

She has made a significant

commitment to developing

both her knowledge, and

her skills.”

BALL COLEGRAVE Sponsored Scholarship

winner Danny Booth, 23,

from Southport, Lancashire,

is currently studying for

an NVQ in Production

Horticulture at Myerscough

College in Lancashire, and

is also a Grower manager

at Lovania Nurseries.

Danny plans to visit

nurseries, including plug and

seed suppliers that specialise

in production techniques

to learn more about best

practice and quality control.

Stuart Lowen, Marketing

Manager at Ball Colegrave,

says:

“It’s great to see a young

person in a progressive

nursery business apply for

this bursary.”

The DCF Scholarship

Season which runs from

September to January, is

now closed (reopening in

September 2015).

This latest season has

seen a total £14,000

awarded to twelve students

representing seven UK

colleges.

In total, applications

were received from 20

colleges across the UK.

For more details visit:

www.davidcolegrave

foundation.org.uk

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The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3339

Artificial Grass

BLADES GRASSThe gardens at the front

of this property were in

a poor condition despite

the owner’s best efforts

to cultivate a lush green

lawn to complement the

symmetrical design.

The existing lawn and

a small quantity of earth

was stripped and removed.

This creates enough depth

to ensure the level is flush

with the surrounding

planted areas.

Robust groundworks are

the key to a successful and

long-lasting installation,

and critical to guarantee

adequate drainage – this

means even the heaviest of

downpours there is enough

material to absorb the

water as is runs through the

perforations in the grass.

The base is constructed

first by building a perimeter

with tannalised timber –

this is to contain the base

materials but will not be

seen once the grass is laid.

The base is then constructed

using at least 2 inches of a

‘type 1’ compacted stone,

before a blinding of sharp

sand to create a perfectly

flat surface.

This project required

seem joints, which if carried

out correctly will not be seen.

The client opted for a

bright green product to

complement his planting and

chose a shorter pile grass to

create a manicured finish.

0800 107 5151

www. bladesgrass.co.uk

SERENITY TigerTurf UK, has

further extended its

landscape range with

two competitively priced,

visually appealing

additions – Serenity

and Serenity Lite.

Combining a mixture

of green and jute tones,

Serenity is a silky soft grass

which mimics a healthy

natural lawn. With a dense

appearance, the surface

stands at 30mm in height

and is suitable for light to

medium traffic.

The Serenity Lite variant

is available with a lower pile

height of 20mm, and imitates

the look of a freshly-mowed

natural lawn.

Both surfaces are

comprised of a combination

of texturised and straight

yarns which are made

in Britain.

Artificial intelligenceThe artificial grass market is growing fast and the product

is finding it’s way onto a wide range of projects

Serenity

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www.landscapermagazine.com40

Artificial Grass

SURVIVE A DAILY TRAMPLINGAlton Towers was preparing

to open Cbeebies Land,

an attraction that would

need the right look and to

survive a daily trampling of

little feet. It also had to be

signed off by the BBC

within a tight deadline.

Namgrass Vision was

chosen because of its

light tones and soft,

hard-wearing quality. The

firm also created bespoke

ground works and gradients

to the park’s specifications.

Namgrass completed

the 2,000m2 project within

the four week deadline,

earning the park’s and the

BBC’s approval. Since then

they completed other

works for Alton Towers

and Legoland.

Namgrass operate

from a huge shiny ware-

house on the edge of the

New Forest. It has over

40,000m2 of stock at any

one time, not to mention

a display area, showing off

all the latest products.

01425 627832

www.namgrass.co.uk

EFFICIENT AND TOP QUALITYHi-Tech Turf have been

transforming lawns since

2007 and provide a top

quality service to all

customers.

Their range of turfs are

perfect for transforming

front and back lawns,

covering tired patios or

slippery decking and are

ideal for creating green

spaces in small or difficult

access areas such as

balconies, terraces or

city gardens.

All the turfs are safe

for children and pets.

Artificial grasses are

developing every day and

this enables Hi Tech

to adapt their range from

time to time to ensure they

are offering the best grasses

available on the market at

competitive prices.

01244 289 182

PRIVATE AREA IN URBAN JUNGLE Transforming roof space

into a safe green haven can

provide a private area in an

urban jungle.

Green roof space in work

environments can also be

developed to provide a

calm area for staff breaks

and summer meetings. The

area could also be used as

a smoking area (due to the

new smoking regulations

in the United Kingdom)

as our sand filled range of

LazyLawn artificial grasses

conform to British Standards.

Evergreens supply many

surfaces suited for covering

roof areas in a variety of

colours and textures.

Installing on modern roof

systems. Evergreen have

established methods to

install artificial lawns to roof

areas without the need to fix

to the current roof surfaces.

This enables the building

owner or tenant to have

artificial grass installed

without voiding any

warranty on PVC or EPDM

flat roofing systems.

Their fixing method is

Namgrass

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The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3341

Artifi cial Grass

also suitable on lead roofs

or buildings with large lead

� ashing’s – this is of bene� t

as using adhesives on

lead will cause damage or

staining when removing the

arti� cial grass at a later date.

When installing any roof

area you must consider a few

things before installing:

• Is the roof water tight and

will it remain so during the

arti� cial grasses life time?

• Will the roof structure

carry the extra weight of

the arti� cial turf allowing

for snow, water and people

using the area?

It is also very important to

check the area for suitable

safety barriers around the

perimeter of the roof so

there are no hazards for

young children.

Another major element of

any roof area is the

increased wind speed, this

can be overcome by

a number of methods:

• Use a sand � lled arti� cial

grass with a higher � ll rate

on the perimeter edges.

(Roof must be checked

for suitability of the extra

weight.)

• Apply adhesive around the

perimeter edge and ensure

a good bond. (Check roof

surface before use.) Also use

planters for example on high

risk areas.

• Use a rubber or foam

(LazyPad) underlay and

adhere the arti� cial grass

to the rubber, this allows

the grass to be rolled up in

emergences ie. roof leaks,

access, etc.

01572 768208

www.evergreensuk.com

Evergreen

Page 42: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com

The Arborist

42

Feature

Eminent trees and health

Two eminent researchers

into the bene� ts trees

bring to human health –

Dr Kathleen Wolf and Dr

Matilda Van den Bosch –

will attend Barcham Trees’

Big Barn Conference

entitled ‘A Day in the Urban

Forest’ which is to be held

at its Ely, Cambridgeshire,

headquarters on

Wednesday, 17 June, 2015.

Dr Kathleen Wolf

(pictured below) is a

research social scientist

at the College of the

Environment at the

University of Washington,

based in Seattle USA, and

a collaborator with the

USDA Forest Service on

Urban Natural Resources

Stewardship research.

She conducts studies to

understand the human

dimensions of urban forestry

and urban ecosystems,

based on the principles of

environmental psychology.

Dr Matilda Van den

Bosch, formerly a doctor

in general practice and

radiology, is now a full-

time researcher at the

Swedish University of

Agricultural Sciences,

combining her medical

knowledge with insights

in ecology, the natural

environment and

landscape planning. She

uses epidemiological and

experimental methods,

including statistical analyses,

to explore associations

between the mechanisms

behind public health and

natural environments.

Both researchers are

looking forward to meeting

as many of the 550+ other

delegates, who will listen to a

wide range of speakers from

the UK, Europe, Australia

and North America. The

conference, which is totally

free-of-charge and includes

breakfast and lunch, is now

fully subscribed.

FIREWOOD PROCESSOROrange Plant’s Newcastle-

upon-Tyne facility, will

be home to the Hakki

Pilke range of � rewood

processors as the company

has been recently appointed

as exclusive dealers for the

Midlands, North of England

and Scotland.

Hakki Pilke � rewood

processors are manufactured

by Maaselän Kone Oy, a

Finnish company with over

30 years of experience

manufacturing wood

processing equipment.

They are renowned in over

30 countries worldwide for

ease of use and reliability

and, relative to their size,

exceptionally light, fast

and e� cient.

One product worth

particular note is the Hakki

Pilke Expert 37, a processor

suitable for both professional

and demanding domestic

use. Even though it only

needs 7.5kW of power and

weighs just 750kg, it can

be used e� ectively to split

trunks up to 40cm thick.

This user-friendly machine

automatically adjusts the

speed of cut according to

the size of the trunks and

can be equipped with an

‘Easy’ function enhancing

wood movement and

overall usability.

Orange Plant also have

three Hawk 25 processors

available for hire from their

Newcastle, Bromborough

and Burgess Hill depots. At

sub 750kg, this machine is

road towable and is � tted

with a petrol engine making

it a versatile piece of kit.

Orange Plant’s MD, Joanna

Chapman, was upbeat.

“We are really pleased to

be representing the Hakki

Pilke range of products with

our appointment as a dealer

in the UK.”

NEW ELIET SUPER PROF PSD Groundscare are the

exclusive distributor for

the Eliet range of products

Page 43: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3343

Feature

throughout the UK.

The launch of the new

Eliet Super Prof shredder

ensures that the Super Prof

remains a highly efficient

4 seasons shredder.

Over the years the Super

Prof has earned a well-

deserved reputation of being

capable of processing almost

any kind of green waste.

In the spring and autumn

there is a lot of green waste

to be processed and the

abundance of wet material

may clog up other shredders

and in summer and winter

the Super Prof deals with the

shredding of high volumes

of wood and shrubbery.

Key features include:

• Air-blown chip removal

via a 360o rotatable

discharge chute that will

blow the chips to a height of

2 meters.

• AxeleroTM’ discharge

system which produces small

chips by keeping them in the

chipping chamber longer

and are then discharged via

the chute.

• 30% larger infeed opening

for disposing of bulkier and

loose waste.

• Eco EyeTM technology’

which automatically

reduces the power of the

machine to idle when the

machine is not shredding,

resulting in a reduction of

the energy required giving

greater fuel savings, lower

sound levels and decreased

exhaust emissions.

The next generation of

the Super Prof will also be

available as a trailed machine

for those that prefer to

process the wood on the

roadside and transport

off site. Additionally the

renowned “Cross-Country”

tracked model has also

been updated to include

all the features of the new

Super Prof ensuring those

who need to access difficult

terrain have all the benefits

of the latest technology.

To celebrate the official

launch, PSD Groundscare will

be running a special offer

available to all end users

running from 16th March to

30th April 2015 where each

machine purchased will

come with a free eco-eye

system worth £557.47 + VAT.

BENEFITS OF COMPACT TOOL CARRIERWhen a Bridgwater-based

tree surgeon secured

a contract to deal with

over 80 tonne of wood in

connection with a major

site clearance contract he

was at last able to justify

the purchase of an Avant

compact tool carrier.

Sedgemoor Tree Services,

established some ten years

ago by Jim Doble and his

wife Nicola, specialises

mainly in private garden

contracts and was very keen

to acquire an Avant in order

to make life easier when

working in tight access areas.

Commenting on his

acquisition, Mr. Doble

said: “The machine has

proved a real bonus for our

type of work, particularly

as we have also purchased

a range of highly useful

attachments including pallet

forks, log grab, ripper and a

flail mower.”

Mr. Doble had initially

looked at skid steer machines

but decided that the wheel

mounted and articulated

chassis of the Avant design

would cause far less damage

to sensitive surfaces such

as grass.

Mr. Doble continued:

“The Avant has now changed

the way we tackle bigger

jobs by minimising back-

breaking hand work and it

also has the added bonus of

being very easy to transport

to site behind my 4x4 truck.”

Supplied by local

dealer Avant Equipment

of Glastonbury, the 528

model chosen by

Sedgemoor is powered

by a fuel-efficient Kubota

diesel engine developing

21 kW (28 hp) and is able to

lift 800 kg to a maximum

height of 2790mm thanks

to its telescopic boom.

Page 44: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com

Hardscaper

44

FeatureFeature

Natural look Kelkay have made it easy

to create a natural look in

the garden with its Cobble

Sett Mats and Yorkshire

Walling ranges.

The cobble mat sets made

from premium solid granite

are available in three colours

– rose, dark and light grey.

Easy to use they are ideal

for garden transformations,

while also being popular

to renovate driveways,

patiosand even pool decks.

With no experience

required, these granite mat

sets o� er a great way of

covering any area including

uneven surfaces, giving a

durable, natural stone � nish.

Granite is the hardest

and most durable natural

stone in our range. It is

extremely hardwearing, its

resistance to heat and other

forms of stress make it a

popular choice for � ooring

throughout the home and

garden. The versatility of the

cobble mat sets allow the

consumer to choose a variety

of grouting products from

traditional Buildmate Patio

Joint Fill to complimenting

decorative aggregates from

the Kelkay range.

Borderstone Yorkshire

Walling, available in sand and

grey is a suitable alternative

to the slightly more

traditional � nishes. Double-

sided blocks with natural

decorative stone chippings

revealed in the surface o� er

superior quality while the

coping stones provide the

perfect � nish to any wall.

The walling blocks comes

in two sizes, 215x63mm and

290x63mm. The coping

stones are 580x136mm.

Antony Harker, managing

director at Kelkay, said:

“These new additions along

with many more this season

go towards ensuring that

Kelkay o� er a comprehensive

and versatile range of

products to cover todays

progressive market. With

an in depth understanding

of the industry and

customer needs, Kelkay

have a consistent approach

to quality, service and

innovation.”

Kelkay ensures stock

availability throughout the

season, especially at peak

times. The company commits

to fast turnaround of orders

and retailers across the UK

value the its £500 carriage

paid order service.

Kelkay’s brand portfolio

also includes Borderstone,

Buildmate, easyfountain and

Henri providing landscapers

with a single source of supply

for a wide range of products.

Page 45: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3345

Feature

BE INSPIRED…Returning to London

ExCeL, 28-30 April 2015,

the Natural Stone Show

is the UK’s only event

dedicated to natural stone.

Choose from over 200

suppliers of stone, tile, slab

and block from around the

world for use in all types of

work – flooring, cladding,

hard landscaping, kitchens,

bathrooms, roofing,

conservation, fireplaces,

memorials and sculpture.

Find future design trends

and get ahead of the market

with all the latest stone

finishes and product lines.

Improve workshop

productivity with live

demonstrations of

CNC technology and

diamond tooling.

Source from the

leading stone treatment

manufacturers and

keep your stone project

looking pristine.

Access CPD from 25 free

seminars at the Natural Stone

& Building Conservation

Conference.

LOWEST EVER PRICES FOR A LIMITED TIMELateral Design Studio has

announced it is offering

20% OFF Jonite stone

channel drain covers,

manhole covers and tree

grates, as they launch a bid to

make them as popular in the

UK as traditional cast iron.

These channel drain

covers – along with versions

in stainless steel and cast iron

– won the Society of Garden

Designers Product of the Year

Award 2014. The 20% price

reduction takes place during

March and April 2015.

Jonite stone products

blend in seamlessly and

effortlessly with their

environment, adding a touch

of sophistication to all kinds

of projects – from private

patios to complex, large scale

public schemes. Pictured

above (third from left) a

Jonite tree grate installed

at the multi-million pound

Colchester Arts Centre.

It is made with 30%

recycled materials and has

a lower water absorption

rate than natural stone,

which means the covers

maintain their colour when

in contact with water.

They are available in

eight sophisticated colours,

including York White and

Portland Beige, which are

designed to match the

highly popular York and

Portland stones. Bespoke

designs, sized and colours

are also available for projects

with specific requirements.

CORNISH LANDSCAPING GRANITESuppliers of weathered Cornish granite boulders

01329 285825www.cornishlandscapinggranite.co.uk

Page 46: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com46

Playgrounds

Despite children’s

abundance of natural

energy, we adults are

stopping them being as

active as possible. Adopting

an active lifestyle early in

life encourages healthy

habits in adulthood which

means providing children

with time, space and

facilities to enable that

natural energy.

Provision of high-quality

public play facilities has a

vital role to play in tackling

these challenges, says the

Association of Play Industries

(API), the lead trade body for

the UK play sector, while also

addressing wider societal

problems like anti-social

behaviour. But while every

child has a fundamental

right to play (article 31),

there are many local

communities for whom that

right is under threat.

Play delivers physical,

developmental, emotional,

behavioural, social and

environmental benefits

which is why the API

campaigns at the highest

levels for policy recognition

of the value of active play.

As the General Election

approaches, the API urges all

political parties to make play

a manifesto priority with four

key asks:

1. Public facilities: children

are more physically active

if they have access to

high-quality outdoor play

facilities. Well-designed play

spaces act as a ‘signpost’

for children to access the

outdoor world. Public parks

should be hubs for physical

activity for people of all

ages. Investment in, and

subsequent maintenance

of, public play facilities

should be a government

priority, particularly in

deprived communities.

2. Local expertise: local

authority procurement

practices are protracted,

consume time and money,

stifle the development of

high-quality play facilities

and fail children. Play is a

child development issue.

Decisions about local play

provision should be made

by specialists within local

authorities who understand

the benefits of play and the

needs of local communities,

not by procurement

departments.

3. School investment:

increased physical activity

levels are directly linked

to greater concentration

and academic attainment.

Schools play a key role in

encouraging children to

be more active throughout

the school day. The Sport

England Primary Spaces

programme should be

extended to every school,

with broader scope to

incorporate a wide variety

of physical literacy activities,

not just ball games.

4. Ofsted assessment: active

outdoor learning and play at

school are as important as

PE and sport in encouraging

children of all capabilities

to be more physically

active, as well as improving

concentration, classroom

behaviour and academic

performance. A measurable

outcome for physical literacy

with agreed minimum levels

of physical activity, outdoor

learning and play should

be mandated in all schools

as part of the National

Curriculum with outcomes

assessed by Ofsted.

Children crave exciting,

fun play environments and

there is plentiful evidence

that challenging play

benefits children of all ages.

After all, it’s not climbing up

the tree that teaches lessons

in life, it’s coming down that

counts. With a few scrapes

along the way, it’s the

journey that is significant

and we’re wiser for it.

Far from wrapping

children in cotton wool,

API members believe the

benefits of managed risk

are indisputable so provide

high-quality play equipment

with plenty of challenge.

Approached with common

sense, challenging play

takes children outside their

comfort zone, teaching

valuable lessons about their

capabilities and skills. They

grow confidence, resilience

and self-awareness in the

process, ready for life’s

inevitable challenges.

Challenge in play comes

in many forms, from using

equipment that pushes

physical limitations for

the intended age group,

to learning new skills or

doing something a new

way. Either way, recognising

the difference between

challenge and hazard is

important.

Applying common sense

is essential. Play providers

have a duty of care to

demonstrate diligence and

to remove unforeseeable

hazards that may cause

injury. The Register of Play

Child’s play an election issue!

Obesity and inactivity are rising and young people’s relationship with the outdoors is dwindling

‘Every child has a fundamental right

to play there are many local

communities for whom that right is

under threat.’

Page 47: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3347

Playgrounds

Inspectors International

say challenge is a desirable

attribute encouraging

children to explore their

limitations and develop new

skills. A hazard is a negative

influence associated with

something being wrong with

the equipment, surfacing or

surrounding environment

which could harm a child.

The Children’s Play

Safety Forum’s ‘Managing

Risk in Play Provision’ is an

invaluable guide for play

buyers and is endorsed

by the Health and Safety

Executive (HSE), the Royal

Society for the Prevention of

Accidents (RoSPA), Institution

of Occupational Safety and

Health (IOSH), API and others.

Before opening a new play

area, the provider or its play

company should commission

a post-installation inspection,

undertaken by a registered,

certificated Register of Play

Inspectors International (RPII)

inspector. Regular repair

and maintenance is vital

to eliminate hazards, and

servicing and replacement

of worn out parts keeps

play equipment safe and

compliant. API members

provide nationwide

maintenance and repair

services.

Health and safety

concerns sometimes impede

positive thinking about the

benefits of managed risk in

playgrounds. Commonly

held myths include:

1. Playground equipment is

less exciting nowadays

API members offer a vast

array of challenging play

equipment designed to

offer excellent play value

and wide-ranging benefits.

2. Safety surfacing makes

playgrounds less exciting

Impact-absorbing surfacing

is designed to protect

children against critical head

injury. Far from limiting

challenge, it can be used

as a standalone resource to

mark distinct play zones and

to increase play value, for

example, by adding trails,

paths, numbers, letters,

words or shapes.

3. European legislation has

banned exciting playground

equipment

The purpose of European

and British safety standards

is to prevent serious injuries,

not to limit challenge. All

API members conform to

relevant standards which

while not mandatory, are

viewed as best practice by

the API, play industry and

judicial systems.

Children inevitably face

the occasional bump, fall

or collision when playing.

Taking a balanced approach

to risk means choosing a

reputable play company that

provides expert advice.

The voice of the play

industry. From sensory

spaces for toddlers to skate

parks, Parkour and social

spaces for teenagers,

today’s play spaces are

engaging, flexible, multi-use

areas with fun, stimulating

equipment that appeals

to children of all ages and

abilities. Adding a well-

designed, well-maintained

play area with high quality

equipment and strong play

value provides immeasurable

benefits to local families.

API member companies

are the UK’s leading experts

in play provision. They

design, create and install

high-quality play equipment

using certificated products

and provide advice on

inspection, maintenance

and repair. They operate to

the highest standards, abide

by a strict Professional Code

of Conduct, comply with

relevant safety standards,

and are rigorously and

regularly monitored and

credit-checked for financial

security and stability.

For helpful advice, the

API website provides a

wide range of resources,

information and links about

fundraising, planning and

project guidance, design,

safety and risk, plus full

member details including

examples of recent work.

www.api-play.org

Page 48: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com48

Feature

The star attraction of your

site is a collection of really

imaginative show gardens.

What is the commercial

thinking behind this idea

who is it designed to

appeal to?

“The commercial idea is an

accumulation of 45 years in

business – it’s something

that comes with experience

and deep-seated knowledge

of the industry.

“The commercial thinking

is about coupling knowing

what people want from their

gardens with keeping up

with what is happening with

homes and gardens today,

which is that gardens now

are all about extending your

home to the outside.”

What sort of footfall do

you think you will attract

from a) the public? b) other

professional landscapers

buying supplies?

“The Garden Destination

Centre is catering for two

markets. The first market

is the service market –

these people looking for

Hambrooks to design and

build their gardens. Once

their gardens are built they

will return to the Centre to

buy supplies such as garden

accessories sculptures,

garden furniture and other

items that add the final

touch to their new gardens.

“The other market is the

goods or products market

for the DIY gardener – these

people wish to design and

build their own gardens. Our

landscaping goods and wide

range of plants will cater for

this market.

“Finally, we also supply

the trade from Titchfield.”

What sort of promotional

activity do you undertake

to bring in the general

public?

“We have a number of

themed day and evening

events planned for this year

– aimed at both the private

individual and business

people, which we will use to

educate as to what a Garden

Destination Centre is – so

they do not confuse it with

what they might come to

expect from a traditional

garden centre.

“We are also sending

seasonal newsletters and

marketing letters and

leaflets together with

double page advertorials

in local glossy lifestyle

magazines that tells the

story of Hambrooks.”

You have been in the

business and successful for

some 40 years now – what

do you think will be major

landscaping trends over

the next 12 months?

“There will be nothing

major – certainly not in a

way that we will notice.

“There are a few trends

that have been coming in

for a few years now and

these will continue – such

as outdoor kitchens

and more sophisticated

entertainment spaces.

These trends also include

verandas or canopies.”

Garden Destination Centre

Hambrooks are multiple award-winning landscapers. David Curtis visits their show site and landscape supply centre, and talks to Norman Hambrook

Page 49: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3349

Feature

Page 50: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com50

Show report

Garden Press EventWe check out the latest plants, products and services for 2015

Rainbow Plants specialises in the production of hardy nursery stock in pots from 1.5L up to

“instant gardening” specimens in250L pots.

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.

Grown in Devon for South West conditions.

visit the web site for more details about the nursery.

01404 [email protected]

David Austin Roses – breeders of the fragrant English Roses – 900 varieties available

www.davidaustinroses.co.uk

Raised beds and planters – WoodBlocX –any shape or size. Special o� ers

every month + a free design service

www.woodblocx.co.uk

New machines from the USA

www. egopowerplus.com

Page 51: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3351

Show report

New machines from John Deere

www.deere.co.uk

RHS Up-to-date information each month along with access to advice, plants,

gardens and competitions

www.rhs.org.uk

Cadix is a leading trade supplier of contemporary pots and planters for the garden and home

www.cadix.co.uk

SteadyPost FenceFins are the simple, easy, strong way to hold wooden fence posts

firmly in the ground

www.steadypost.co.uk

Vitax Amenity – helping professional groundsmen

and greenkeepers

www.vitax.co.ukToledo cast iron chimenea

www.gardeco.co.uk

EasySet Mole Trap takes the hassle out of catching moles

www.beagleproducts.com

Page 52: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

We have 40,000 metres of certified UK provenance stock, across 15 species, available all year round that is now offered

to the trade at a discounted rate.

Practicality Brown are the sole suppliers of the Elveden Instant HedgeTM

PRACTICALITY BROWN LTDIver Stud, Swan Road, Iver, Bucks. SL0 9LA.

Tel: 01753 652022 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.pracbrown.co.uk

Elveden Instant Hedge TM

1.8m high Hornbeam at the nursery

The only true Instant Hedge

Prac Brown V6 A4 with bleed_Layout 1 26/07/2013 10:35 Page 1

Page 53: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

Plantseeker

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3353

Cash & CarryFOUR OAKS

Catalogue on request & on-line

www.fouroaks-nurseries.co.ukABCDEFGJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

‘One Stop Shop’for Plants & SundriesYoung Plants of Bedding & Basket Plants

Alpines & Perennials - Trees & ShrubsMediterranean Plants - Specimens

Range of Sundries

Tel: 01477 571797 Fax: 01477 571314Email: [email protected]

Lower Withington, Cheshire SK11 9DX

Cheshire

Kent

Surrey

For all your plants Live availability & discounted

on-line orders phone: 01233 813340

e: [email protected]

Lancashire

London

Nursery Stock to the landscape

industryTel 01707 261 370 Fax 01707 262 847

[email protected]

ABCDEGJLMNOPQRSTWXY

Sussex

:

:

:

Plants

Products

Fax

01322 662315

01322 662130

01322 663895

[email protected]

www.provendernurseries.co.uk

Leydenhatch Lane, Swanley, Kent BR8 7PS

WE SELL PLANTS AND SUNDRIES

PROVENDERN U R S E R I E S

where plants, productsand people come together

Woodcock Lane,Chobham, Woking,Surrey GU24 8TS

web: www.plants.co.ukemail: [email protected]

A B C D E G J L M O S T W X Y

Tel: 01276 855855Fax: 01276 855055

PLANTS LIMITED

W.Godfrey & Sons LtdWholesale Herbaceous Growers

CALL (01276) [email protected]

We grow and supply herbaceous plants and related groups to the landscape and plant centre trade

CALL (01276) 471757

Nationwide

READYWHENYOUARE.

01386 750585

WHOLESALE PLANTS FOR UK DISTRIBUTION

Instant Screening Solutions Rootballed Hedging & Trees

TEL. 0845 6522789(Agents for Growers Internationally)

ALL PLANTS SUPPLIED FOR:WHOLESALE/RETAIL OUTLETS

LANDSCAPERS, DESIGNERSDEVELOPERS/BUILDERS

LOCAL AUTHORITIESSEASONAL TRADERS

ENQUIRIES BY FAX:05601 275088

OR THRU. WEBSITE

Worcestershire

Tree & Shrub SpecialiSTS

Tel: 01949 20445Fax: 01949 21154

e-mail: [email protected]: www.dwfroST.com

Lincolnshire

Autumn 2013Price List

Suppliers of BulbsNursery Stock

and Christmas Trees

D&R SIMMONS LTD(Established 1951)45 Market Way, Pinchbeck, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE11 3PETel: 01775 723320 / 766028Fax: 01775 760451 / 714970www.drsimmons.co.uke-mail: [email protected]

SPRING FLOWERING BULBS

Tel: 01775 723320Fax: 01775 [email protected]

45 Market Way, Pinchbeck, Spalding, Lincs, PE11 3PE.

Suppliers of all types of flower bulbs, nursery stock & Christmas trees

D&R Simmons Ltd

FARLOW FARM NURSERYORETON, CLEOBURY MORTIMER,

KIDDERMINSTER, WORCS, DY14 0TZ

Suppliers of:

EVERGREEN /TRADITIONALHEDGING PLANTS, ORNAMENTAL CONIFERS & TREES, SHRUBS & HEATHERS

TEL/FAX: (01746) 718688 Email: [email protected]

Established over 25 years

www.farlowfarmnursery.co.uk

Supplied nationally – lawn edging,railing planters and more.

[email protected]

01630 673860

English Hedging is a family run company specialising in production, sales, delivery and installation

of instant evergreen hedging at competitive pricing.

Otterhill Farm, Rowtown, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 1HD Mobile: 07552 392 339| Office: 01932 854 135

www.englishhedging.comwww.dingleydell.tel

Nationwide

To advertise call Matthew on (020) 8891 485007940 155 157

To advertise call (020) 8891 4850

Page 54: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

Plantseeker

www.landscapermagazine.com54

Arti� cial Grass

Farm Forestry Co

All Landscape & Forestry Supplies

Spirals / CanesShelters / Stakes

Quality Trees & ShrubsGrass Reinforcement &

Protection MeshPlastic Pavers

Plastic Deer FencingNew Oak Sleepers

Tel: 01588 650496Fax: 01588 650631www.farmforestry.co.uk

01244 289 [email protected]

Tel: 01942 684804www.parkwayplantsales.comemail: [email protected]

• Takeuchi Mini Excavators • Merlo Telescopic Handlers

• Ammann Compaction Equipment• Messersi Tracked Dumpers

• Auger Torque

Landscape Supplies

KING FEEDERS UKSPECIALIST SHREDDING & COMPOSTING EQUIPMENT

www.ecogreencomposting.co.uk Tel: 01260 223273

Erosion Control

Sportsturf Machinery

Specialised Landscapingand TurfcareEquipment

Visit www.blec.co.uk or call 01778 346222

Stump Grinders

Narrow Access Stump Grinders

0% Finance AvailableTel: 01420 474600

Pedestrian stump grinders

Tunnissen productsBlue Chip Chippas

Beau productsFull technical

support & after sales service

THEbestTHINGScome

INpackagesSMALL

DANequip’s stump

grindershave the

advantage of narrow

access down to 28”

www.danequip.co.ukT: 01420 476248

UK LTD

Machinery

The UK’s leading specialist seeding contractor

NATIONWIDE SERVICE(01954) 232350 [email protected]

www.cdts-ltd.co.uk

Seeding

35mm width x 50mm height

Sprayers

Aeration

08450 773 773www.psdgroundscare.com

COSTS LOST TIME INJURIES

SAFETYPRODUCTIVITY

PROFIT

SERVICE LIFTS

Heftee ad 50x35 01.qxd:Layout 1

Service Lifts

Swimming Ponds

Swimming pond design and / or Construction

020 7183 3333www.gartenart.co.uk

Lawn Edging

R Bethell (Plant Hire Services For Landscape Clearance)

We provide Land Clearance Service with Excavatorswith attachments of Land Rakes for removal of Hedges,shrubs, bush, scrub, weeds, grass removal, top soil works,soil preparation for seeding or plant beds, clean outwater ditches. Remove scrub and bush around lakes,pools, ditches, farm land, open ground, rake flower Beds& planting areas and excavate Pools, lakes, ditchexcavation, drainage, new water pipe feeds.

And also for Hire with operator ForestryMulcher fitted to a Bobcat for site clearanceworks on all types New sites, golf courses,open fields, forestry, landscape gardeners, majorlandscape companies. We undertake all sizes ofcommercial and domestic jobs throughout UK.

E: [email protected]

T: 07792705832

Office: 01952 590604

R Bethell (Plant Hire Services For Landscape Clearance)

We provide land clearance service using excavators with attachments of land rakes: for removal of hedges, shrubs, bush, scrub, weeds, grass removal, topsoil works, soil preparation for seeding or plant beds, clean out water ditches. We remove scrub and bush around lakes, pools, ditches, farm land, open ground. We also rake flower beds & planting areas, excavate pools, lakes, ditches, drainage and new water pipe feeds.

07792 705832 [email protected]

Sprayers, Trailers, Water Units,Lawn Care, Leaf Sweepers &Suckers... & Much More!

01473 328272 or visitwww.schsupplies.co.uk

Page 55: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

Pro-File

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3355

Mole Catchers

www.beagleproducts.comor call us on 01223 927216

Use code LAN14 for £2.50 off at checkout

The best mole trap in the world?Why not find out for yourself?

• The easiest trap to set• Simple robust design• Easy to see when triggered• Effective time after time

Endorsed by

Master Mole

Catchers in the

UK

Machinery

Hydraulic post driver—either centre mounted or offset behind tractor. Also available mounted on Weidemann loader

08703 210256 / 07850 210256 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.microplant.net

Mini Tractors Mini Loaders Skidsters Mini Diggers Post Hole Borers Hyd’ Post Drivers Trenchers Rotavators Stoneburiers Power Rakes Harrows Mowers Logsplitters Firewood Processors Etc.

Fencing , Landscaping, Paddock Maintenance & Forestry Machinery

MAKES SHORT WORK OF TALL JOBS

s Lightweight, stable and very strong

s Guard rail around platform leaves both hands free

s Aluminium – will not rust or corrode

The Perfect Platform for Hedgecutting

The HedgeMaster

Send for FREE information pack:

01825 [email protected]

www.hedgemastersales.co.uk

Tel: (01788) 823811www.access-irrigation.co.uk

[email protected]

Tel 0845 230 9697 • www.lws.uk.com

For all your golf, sportsturf and landscape irrigation needs.Buy online at www.lws.uk.com

Drainage & Irrigation

Oakley Road, Bromley Common, Kent BR2 8HGTel: 0208 - 462 - 4630www.cityirrigation.co.ukSouth Coast BranchCity Irrigation Ltd. Chalcroft Nurseries, Chalcraft Lane, Bognor Regis, PO21 5TS

CITY IRRIGATION LTDThe one stop shop for all your irrigation

SIT ON GRASS CUTTERFULLY SERVICED & READY TO GO

DIESEL KUBOTA G216042” CUTTER DECK

WITH POWER STEERINGHYDROSTATIC DRIVE

HYDRAULIC LIFT AND LOWER DECK

ONLY £2,800CALL ALAN MASON:

01429 836266www.masonwoodchippers.com

Grass cutter for sale

Creative typesetting for our advertisersWe now offer our clients an affordable design service – give us a call and see

what we can do for you!

t:+44 (0)20 8891 4850

Page 56: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

Changing Places

T TTT

Changing Places

www.landscapermagazine.com56

STUART BURGIN has been appointed Chief Executive of William Sinclair Horticulture, the leading growing media, fertilisers and chemicals producer. He succeeds Peter Rush, CEO for the past two years, who has left the company having commissioned its

new £25m compost facility in Ellesmere Port and relaunched the J. Arthur Bower’s Growing Success and Deadfast product ranges.

Mr Burgin, 52, has extensive senior management experience, most notably in the food and grocery sector where he worked for RHM, Robert McBride and, most recently, Oscar Mayer as CEO.

He will spearhead phase two of Sinclair’s transformation from a traditional peat harvester to a world-leading producer of locally sourced, ecologically sustainable growing media as the company responds to the changing regulatory climate.

A turnaround expert, Mr Burgin will devise and implement a programme to streamline operations and return Sinclair to profitability following a period of heavy capital investment.

“I am joining a first class team,” said Mr Burgin, “and I look forward to leading.”

Experienced Head Gardener JOHN HAWLEY is joining the team at Gordon Castle Walled Garden in Fochabers, Moray, on 16 February 2015.

RHS-trained, John is the former National Trust Head Gardener at Sizergh Castle in Cumbria, and before that was Assistant Head Gardener at Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire.

He comes to the 8.5 acre, Arne Maynard-designed, walled garden project with experience and excitement in equal measure.

Speaking about his appointment, John says, “I have been looking for the next challenge in my horticultural career for some time and when I heard about the opportunity at Gordon Castle I knew I had to take a look. It’s not often you get the chance to – almost – build a garden from scratch and with such a magnificent design already in place, I am going to love helping bring it all together.”

Hot on the heels of Charterhouse Turf Machinery (CTM) taking over exclusive UK distribution of Graden Industries Machinery comes the appointment of JOHN FITZPATRICK.

John was with the previous Graden distributor and has joined Charterhouse as ‘Graden Product Specialist’. His appointment is part of a company-wide ‘staff-strengthening’ programme.

John has been in the groundcare industry since he left school, gaining experience in all areas through working on bowling greens, cricket squares, football and rugby pitches as well as in sales before joining contractor, Keith Kensett. It was after Kensett’s began to work with Graden machinery that John became synonymous with the product.

“From the first time I saw Graden machinery in action I couldn’t believe just what they could do!” said John. “They are great machines and I get great pleasure from working with the end users to help build their confidence to achieve the very best. After the sad loss of Keith I was delighted that Charterhouse stepped in to give continuation of the product. I have always believed them to be a very professional, friendly and helpful company and now working with them has confirmed that.”

CTM Sales Manager, Nick Darking, added, “We are delighted that John has joined us. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise of the Graden products and has already proven himself to be a massive asset to the team.”

Headland Amenity have expanded their sales capacity in the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland with the appointment of DAVE HOWELLS as Technical Sales Manager. Headland are pleased to be able to strengthen and enhance their technical support in that region and Dave will work with

both end users and Headland’s distribution network.

Dave’s experience has taken in greenkeeping at golf clubs around Europe, as well as sales. He is no stranger to Headland and their unique products as he previously worked for the company for 10 years before embarking on other projects.

A desire to get back out into the field, and the company’s requirement to strengthen their presence in the north, have led Dave back to Headland.

Page 57: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

The Landscaper | Issue 193 | March 2015 3357

Jobs

SOFT LANDSCAPE SUPERVISOR (Ref:L403) London (within M25)

Salary: Up to £25K

Contact: Ruth Bolam – [email protected] or call 01233 732767

Our client has a large and successful landscape business based in

SW London. They currently have a vacancy for a hands-on supervisor within

their landscaping division. The person appointed will be responsible for a

team of up to four landscapers working primarily on the construction of soft

landscaping to new housing developments. Candidates must be highly self

motivated with proven experience at a supervisory level, and good practical

skills in all aspects of soft landscaping.  The company is expanding rapidly and

is able to offer excellent career prospects for the right candidate.

HEAD GARDENER (Ref: E672) North London

Salary: £25-£30K DOE

Contact: Mark Hudson – mark @horticruitment.com or call 01233 732767

Our client wishes to recruit a Head Gardener to manage two historic gardens

which are open to the public and incorporates 24 acres of parkland, including

mixed borders, trees and lawns. It is essential you have a horticultural

qualification, management experience; clean driving licence and PA1/PA6

spray certificates. A chainsaw certificate would also be desirable. Additionally

excellent customer service skills are required as you will be regularly working

with the public and required to deal with complaints and enquiries.

Duties include ground maintenance, supervising staff to ensure work is

completed to a high standard, undertaking admin tasks, assist with budgets

and maintain site plans. A company vehicle is provided for working between

sites, along with required tools to maintain the grounds.

SENIOR LANDSCAPE FOREMAN (Ref:J143a) London and South East

Salary £30K

Contact: Marian Davies – [email protected] or call 01233 732767

A well established and award winning landscape company seeks a highly

experienced Foreman to manage one or more of their site teams, working on

high end landscape construction projects.

Candidates must be highly motivated with excellent hard landscaping

skills. You must also have the ability to plan and execute the work efficiently

ensuring that projects are completed on time and to the high standard

expected. Previous experience at foreman level is essential, and you should

also hold a current driving licence.

GROUNDS MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR(Ref:S201) Berkshire

Salary: £18 - £24K

Contact: Marian Davies – [email protected] or call 01233 732767

Our client is an established landscaping and grounds maintenance business

operating within Berkshire and surrounding area. Customers include

commercial companies as well as private home owners. They currently seek

an experienced maintenance supervisor  who has good practical skills

in garden maintenance, combined with strong leadership skills, to take

responsibility for the day to day management and supervision of a dedicated

maintenance team working on a variety of sites. You will be responsible for

ensuring that work is carried out safely, to the highest quality and within

agreed time frames. He/she should have excellent practical skills in all areas of

grounds and garden maintenance, be hard working and reliable and be able to

use their initiative to resolve problems quickly and efficiently.

Page 58: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

www.landscapermagazine.com58

Competition

WIN! WIN! WIN!SPOT THE DIFFERENCE!

Can you spot how many differences there are between the two pictures?If you can, just email [email protected]

with your contact details including daytime telephone number, stating how many differences you have spotted...

(Clue! It’s between 1 & 12)

YOU COULD WIN A FANTASTIC STONE GLOBE LIGHT WORTH £168

DESIGNED FOR HARD OR SOFT LANDSCAPINGEXTREMELY TOUGH

UV AND FROST RESISTANT & MADE IN BRITAIN

CHECK THEM OUT ON WWW.STONEGLOBELIGHTS.CO.UK

TERMS AND CONDITIONSThe winner will be chosen at random from the correct entries. The editor’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

Competition closes for entries on March 31, 2015. Cash alternative is not available. Only UK readers can enter. Competition is not open to anyone involved in the printing, publishing or distribution of The Landscaper.

Page 59: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

� Easy direct sowing� Range of different mixtures� Minimum ground preparation� Mixtures to suit any situation� Minimal maintenance� No plugs, no plastic pots� 6 months sequential flowering

Freefone 0800 424 919www.rigbytaylor.com

Colouring the urbanlandscape...naturally

Attracts bees, birds &

butterflies

Rigby Taylor is proud to bethe Headline Sponsor of the

2014 BALI Landscape Awards

Landscaper 2015 A5_Layout 1 20/11/2014 15:28 Page 1

Page 60: THE LANDSCAPER  MARCH 2015

Stonemarket is proud to be at the forefront of hard landscaping product development, renowned for cutting edge innovation and design.

Stonemarket strives to work alongside the best landscapers in the industry, offering products from an outstanding selection of British-made materials, complemented by the very best available natural stone the world has to offer. Whether it’s for a traditional cottage garden, or contemporary outdoor space, Stonemarket’s extensive product range offers a design solution for any patio or driveway.

Visit Stonemarket.co.uk to join Stonemarket’s network of Landscapers and enjoy many benefi ts including direct project enquiries from home owners in your local area. It’s free to join!

www.stonemarket.co.uk

beachsidea beige to oatmeal coloured sandstone

gravityurban contemporary cool vitrifi ed paving

lucentvitrifi ed paving with classic appearance

paleovitrifi ed paving with mediterranean elegance

templetonpatented reconstituted stone driveway system

stonesparnatural stone linear block paving

excelsiorcontemporary polishedconcrete paving

ampliarversatile driveway paving edging unit

timberstonereconstituted stone timber effect decking