This World Soil Day (December 5th), leading topsoil and growing media supplier, Boughton is calling on landscapers, specifiers and garden designers to take time to consider the benefits of natural soils. Boughton – a firm advocate for single-source natural ‘as dug’ topsoil – is keen to use this significant day
Willerby Landscapes has won the Grand Award at this year’s Green-tech-sponsored National Landscape Awards for its Battersea Power Station Phase 2 Roof Garden. This is the 7th Grand Award win for the Edenbridge-based company, setting a record for the highest number of top prizes won by any company in the
By Keith Gallacher Everyone who drives a car or travels by bus will have seen the small forests of plastic tubes at the side of any new road or motorway works. They are there to provide initial protection for tree saplings planted as part of the landscaping of the project.
Accredited Contractor Maylim is celebrating at the 46th National Landscape Awards, taking home the prestigious Grand Award, sponsored by Green-tech, and Principal Award in their category for Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) – Over £500K for the redevelopment of the unique Exchange Square, London. The annual National Landscape Awards, held at
The British Association of Landscape Industries’ (BALI) prestigious National Landscape Awards, the largest of their kind anywhere in Europe, return on Friday 3rd December 2021 and entries have now opened alongside several exciting new announcements for the 45th year. Registered members can now submit their full entry online for the
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has awarded its ultimate accolade to Registered Contractor PWP Landscape Design for its stunning BALI National Landscape Awards 2020 entry, a Private Residence in Yorkshire. The formal garden won the Grand Award after being entered into the Domestic Garden Construction – Costs Between
Charcon Hard Landscaping, a division of Aggregate Industries, has completed the development of a central campus square to provide a multi-use outdoor venue at the University of Leicester. The project, which was part of a wider scheme to renovate the area, saw the Fielding Johnson car park transformed into a
idverde landscaping client, Croydon Council, is celebrating the news that Happy Valley Country Park has received a Special Award for Innovation from the Green Flag Award Scheme. The 252-acre green space in Coulsdon is one of just fifteen inspirational parks and green spaces in the UK to achieve the award.
This World Soil Day (December 5th), leading topsoil and growing media supplier, Boughton is calling on landscapers, specifiers and garden designers to take time to consider the benefits of natural soils. Boughton – a firm advocate for single-source natural ‘as dug’ topsoil – is keen to use this significant day to highlight the impact using natural topsoil and sourcing products sustainably can have on both your landscaping projects and the environment. Improving soil health As World Soil Day focuses on soil health and awareness in order to maintain diverse ecosystems, Boughton wants to remind the industry about the significant benefits of using a natural soil. Not only do these soils have good body and great moisture retention qualities – ideal for modern landscaping projects, given predictions of water shortages in the future – but Boughton soils also have a low pH, high organic content and boast both existing and developing organism biomass. The latter is a huge plus for planting schemes, considering the vital role microbial activity plays in the development and growth of flora within a soil. In fact, some natural topsoils have been establishing themselves for thousands of years, allowing their nutrient balance time to level out and cycle on a natural rhythm. This means they can provide host plants with accessible nutrients quickly, once installed. Providing soils to award-winning projects There are a number of enormous advantages to using sustainably sourced natural soils, which is why Boughton has supplied its products to several high-profile construction and landscaping projects, including the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station, which was awarded the title of ‘Grand Award Winner’ at the recent BALI National Landscape Awards. The team behind the gardens, Willerby, also received the Principal Award win within the ‘Regeneration Scheme – Over £500k’ category for the second phase of the roof garden. Within these gardens, Boughton’s IN1 substrate was selected to support the scheme due to its ability to support larger plants and to be installed at depths from 100 – 500cm, thanks to its sandy texture. Additionally, Boughton’s IN1 substrate offers significant moisture retention qualities, making it the perfect choice when so many plants are vying for attention within this three-hectare site. IN1 from Boughton continues to meet and exceed all G.R.O guidelines. Elsewhere Boughton’s Lightweight Substrate was used to provide growing media where weight loading for the green roof needed to be lighter than traditional green roof schemes, whilst Rootzone completed the offering. Supplied as a ready-mixed solution, Rootzone provided better planting conditions throughout the scheme. The right soil for your project Boughton supplies a range of natural topsoils to suit a wide variety of applications and projects. All of its ‘as dug’ certified topsoil can be supplied with an independent soil analysis, having been tested by independent MCERTS laboratories. The supply chain for Boughton’s soils is also fully transparent, with complete traceability. Find out more To find out more about Boughton’s complete offering for the amenity, landscape and construction industries, please visit www.boughton.co.uk Pull out box Boughton launches new SuDs Soils Boughton’s already extensive product portfolio is about to expand further with the introduction of three new SuDs soils, designed by the experts at The Environment Patnership. BLRG Rain Garden Soil, BLHP High-Permeability Soil and BLMP Multi-Purpose SuDs Soil all draw their inspiration from Boughton’s market-leading green roof substrates; together offering even more soil solutions for a wide range of landscaping projects. BLRG Rain Garden Soil is based on an extensive green roof substrate and is designed to support rain garden construction and planting via a free draining mixture with a large amount of porosity. A small amount of topsoil has been blended into the mixture to slow down infiltration, or saturated hydraulic conductivity, whilst also providing more body to the mixture to ensure water retention for a much longer period. In doing so, BLRG offers increased water storage performance, and improved water quality benefits. Boughton’s new BLRG is the perfect choice for those planting schemes that prefer a freer draining substance, but one that is sometimes saturated. BLHP High-Permeability Soil is a high-permeability soil, designed to be used in shallow swales, such as those that border pavements and paths. Sand dominant with additional green waste compost and coir fibre inclusion, BLHP is ideal for creating stable conditions with strong water retention capabilities. Additionally, BLHP is suitable for supporting the use of drought tolerant grass species. Finally, BLMP Multi-Purpose SuDs Soil is – as the name suggests – a multi-purpose blend of sand, PAS 100 green waste compost, crushed brick and coir, designed as a layer for swales and rain gardens, to support a range of intensive vegetation. Jason Lock, Boughton’s Business Development Manager, said: “At Boughton we are on a mission to bring to market soil solutions for all gardens and landscape architecture projects. Our new range of SuDs continues to build on our expertise for all things ‘as-dug’ and natural, without compromising on performance and reliance, and open up new opportunities for landscaper, garden designers and specifiers who are looking for soils that will not just support planting schemes but will enable them to thrive more than ever.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willerby Landscapes has won the Grand Award at this year’s Green-tech-sponsored National Landscape Awards for its Battersea Power Station Phase 2 Roof Garden. This is the 7th Grand Award win for the Edenbridge-based company, setting a record for the highest number of top prizes won by any company in the 47-year history of the Awards. The annual National Landscape Awards are the largest of their kind in Europe and are open to all members of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). The Awards recognise excellence in landscape design, construction, and maintenance both in the UK and overseas, as well as exceptional supplier service and employer excellence. The Grand Award is the ultimate accolade, given to the entry judged to be the best out of all 69 National Awards presented earlier in the year. Kris Nellist, Managing Director of headline sponsor Green-tech, commented, “As the UK’s largest supplier to the landscape industry, we are committed to raising its profile through the National Landscape Awards. We congratulate Willerby Landscapes and all the other award winners on their achievements, which demonstrate the extraordinary quality of the work delivered by our fellow members.” The winning scheme is part of the regeneration of the iconic Battersea Power Station. The full 43-acre, Grade II* listed site is being transformed into a mixed-use development, including residential, bars, restaurants, office space, shops and entertainment space. Phase II includes the creation of the numerous gardens, courtyard, terraces, balconies and walkways, designed by LDA Design and Andy Sturgeon Design, with the landscaping works completed by Willerby Landscapes. Chair of the judging panel, John Melmoe, said, “Every aspect of this impressive project, from planning and design, site preparation, health and safety, and logistics, to the craftsmanship, horticultural expertise, and detailing, has been exemplary. When problems are seen as opportunities to excel and perfection is the collective goal, it is little wonder that the industry uses this contractor’s achievements as a benchmark. This year they have raised the bar once again.” This year’s National Landscape Awards were judged over the summer with 69 National Landscape Awards bestowed on 50 members of the Association in September and 24 Principal, four Special and the coveted Grand Award announced live on stage at the prestigious Grosvenor House ceremony. British Association of Landscape Industries Chief Executive, Wayne Grills commented: “These Awards are coveted because they truly represent the best of our industry. Every UK construction and design project is visited personally by a Judge and scrutinised individually, then decisions are debated by the Judging Panel to make sure they demonstrate the level of excellence expected from a National Landscape Award winner.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
By Keith Gallacher Everyone who drives a car or travels by bus will have seen the small forests of plastic tubes at the side of any new road or motorway works. They are there to provide initial protection for tree saplings planted as part of the landscaping of the project. It would be comforting to think that these mini-forests were created by the highway builders as a pleasing aesthetic, a green and leafy mitigation against the thunder of the traffic which the new roads create. However, the requirement for plantings is more likely to have been written into the planning agreements for the works, either as compensation for trees cut down during construction or as carbon capture measures to soak up the consequent fumes. Whatever the rationale, the fact that no road building project is likely to go ahead in the UK these days without some form of planting for pollution control has to be a step forward. Cast your mind back only a few decades – it never used to happen. But, laudable though the greening of motorways and roads may be as a general principle, one part of the programme can sometimes be missing – it is inescapable that, for trees to grow, flourish and fulfil their purpose, they have to be looked after. As any gardener will attest, you can’t just bung something in the ground and walk away. Plants have to be nurtured, watered and fed. The soil they go into is of crucial importance to their health. They are living entities – if the conditions for life are not met, they will die. And, unfortunately, this is exactly what is happening on road projects across the UK. In one particularly egregious example, National Highways planted 850,000 saplings as part of a £1.5 billion upgrade of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon – three-quarters of which have subsequently died. That’s 637,500 trees wasted. The estimated cost of replanting was £2.9 million earlier this year. An FoI request earlier this month also revealed that 30.4% of saplings have died across the nine out of 38 projects carried out by National Highways for which figures were provided. The actual number is likely to be much higher. What this says, according to many experts, is that there is a danger in the wider infrastructure mindset of focusing on the number of trees planted, rather than their survival, and that the focus on subsequent care is blurred, to say the least. It hasn’t helped that politicians in their manifestos have been in a bit of a bidding war about the number of trees they’ll plant and often the young and tender saplings are placed far too close together, further eroding their chances of survival. It is axiomatic that only growing trees capture carbon or improve habitat and that, if survival rates improve, then planting remains one of the most cost-effective ways of managing emissions. Compared to other forms of land use, nothing measures up to trees, though there is a strong case to be made for the use of shrubs and other lower-growing plantings which, being nearer the ground, collect pollutants of the surfaces of leaves and bark. Soil is an important factor, too. Often in road building projects, construction spoil is used for landscaping, and there is no benefit in simply spreading a layer of compost or topsoil across what is, effectively, horticultural rubbish. On a more positive note, one of the heartening takeaways from the Cambridge tree debacle was that National Highways internal documents reveal that the replanting plan will use more mulch to hold water, better tree guards, improved topsoil and reviews of both the type of tree planted and the sapling’s age. This is the sort of thing that should perhaps have been taken into consideration in the first place, and should give the sector as a whole food for thought about how what is essentially a good idea – planting trees – can be made to work for everyone’s benefit. As Albert Einstein said, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. It certainly seems insane not to at least consider a better way of doing things. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Accredited Contractor Maylim is celebrating at the 46th National Landscape Awards, taking home the prestigious Grand Award, sponsored by Green-tech, and Principal Award in their category for Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) – Over £500K for the redevelopment of the unique Exchange Square, London. The annual National Landscape Awards, held at the iconic JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London celebrates the skills, hard work, quality, commitment, and successes of Association members and are the largest awards of their kind in Europe. They recognise excellence in landscape design, construction, and maintenance both in the UK and overseas, as well as supplier exceptional service and employer excellence. This is the second Grand Award win for hard and soft landscaping specialists Maylim, who won back in 2017 for One Tower Bridge. They have over 20 years’ experience in executing high-quality public realm and landscaping schemes, as well as highway and civil engineering projects, across both public and private sectors. The Grand award-winning project, ‘Exchange Square’ sits at the heart of Broadgate, London’s largest pedestrianised neighbourhood. Suspended above the tracks of Liverpool Street Station, the landscape, spanning 5,000m2, unfolds across several levels to create a more natural topography. Exchange Square is a new public park, which has been re-imagined as a bucolic landscape with trees, generously planted borders, and green space. Rather than simply demolish the existing scheme, the contractor chose to ‘deconstruct’ it, dismantling and removing the hard materials, including 300 tonnes of granite and 20 tonnes of boulders, and re-purposing them on other public realm projects. This approach has reduced the environmental impact and financial costs of the new scheme. This year’s National Landscape Awards’ Judges, led by experienced Chair John Melmoe, jointly commented that “This scheme is not only an exemplar of public realm landscaping excellence, fully deserving of the Grand Award, but also a lesson in finding and pursuing alternative solutions to the challenges faced by contractors who are replacing existing hard landscapes.” The project aimed to transform the ageing, corporate and rectilinear former square into an accessible, natural city park with sweeping curves and a four-fold increase in green space. A bespoke and unique pallet of materials was used across the scheme, quite different to any other public realm in the UK. Over 3,000 individual pieces of CNC cut terrazzo form the sweeping amphitheatre, cascading water feature and raised planters. From start to finish, placemaking was at the very heart of the project. Throughout the construction period, Maylim’s interaction and collaboration with local communities and businesses surrounding Exchange Square extended the positive impacts of the scheme, providing opportunities for rest and relaxation amidst the bustle of city life. Chair of the Judging Panel John Melmoe concluded: “The repurposing and reusing of existing materials on this project has reduced the environmental impact and financial costs of the new scheme and must surely be a sustainable way forward for future public realm projects.” Lifetime Achievement The Association is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary, and in recognition of the progress the Association has made in this time, the Board of Directors wished to recognise an individual who was instrumental in its founding, with the Associations first ever Lifetime Achievement Award. Nigel Bowcock, National Chair announced the first Lifetime Achievement Award was being presented to Jeffrey Bernhard OBE. Jeffrey was a founding member of the Association in 1972, and the first National Chair. He, along with the support of others, gave thousands of hours of their own time, alongside their business and personal commitments to establish the Association as a trade body representing the best interests of the whole industry. 63 National Landscape Awards bestowed on 53 members Awards entries were judged over the summer with 63 National Landscape Awards bestowed on 53 members of the Association in September and 26 Principal, 3 Special and the coveted Grand Award announced live on stage at the prestigious ceremony. Other notable wins announced at the Awards ceremony came from Accredited Contractor Nurture Landscapes who won 4 Principal Awards, for Kings Cross Estate, Winnersh Triangle Business Park, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, and 250 Bishopsgate. Bowles & Wyer and Wright Landscapes were both presented with 3 Principal Awards, and 2021 Grand Award winners Graduate Gardeners won 2 Principal Awards for private gardens in Cheltenham and Painswick. Best First Time Entrant, sponsored by Makita UK, was awarded to Ellicar for their Wildlife & Water Garden in Nottinghamshire. Best Design and Build, sponsored by Springbridge Direct, went to The Garden Company for their work at a new build private residence in West Hill. Phoebe Hay of Landform Consultants was presented with a Special Award for Exemplary Horticultural Skill, sponsored by CED Stone Group, for their roof garden project, The Garden at 120. See the full list of winners Events Project Manager, Emily Feeney said: “Once again, this year’s National Landscape Awards has highlighted the fantastic work our Association members have achieved. Despite an ever-changing climate, year on year members continue to produce outstanding schemes that showcase the best the industry has to offer. A huge congratulations from myself and the rest of the Landscape House team to all this year’s winners and in particular our 2022 Grand Award Winner, Maylim!” British Association of Landscape Industries Chief Executive, Wayne Grills commented: “I am delighted to welcome back our members and guests to the 46th National Landscape Awards. Congratulations to all of our Principal and Special Award winners, with huge congratulations to Maylim, our 2022 Grand Award winner, which impressed our judges not only with the landscaping excellence of the overall project, but also the additional repurposing of existing materials, reducing the financial costs of the scheme, and highlighting the importance of sustainability”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The British Association of Landscape Industries’ (BALI) prestigious National Landscape Awards, the largest of their kind anywhere in Europe, return on Friday 3rd December 2021 and entries have now opened alongside several exciting new announcements for the 45th year. Registered members can now submit their full entry online for the first time, (including their submission pack) thanks to a new entry system, alongside the returning postal option. Due to the effects of COVID-19, Contractor, Designer and International members, for 2021 only, now also have the opportunity to submit a scheme that has achieved practical completion in the last 24 months, instead of the normal 12 months. BALI’s Chief Executive Wayne Grills commented, “This extension to the practical completion date now affords members more flexibility in what has been a difficult last 12 months. Alongside the option to submit online, we hope to see a wide variety of entries across all of our available categories this year.” There are 33 categories in total, including a brand-new Nature Conservation and Biodiversity Enhancement category. The judges will be looking for projects that demonstrate a significant contribution to conservation or enhancement of biodiversity, embodying the principles of sustainable development using innovative concepts. Chair of the judging panel, John Melmoe, said, “We are delighted to introduce this new category for 2021. We will be looking for evidence of any biodiversity net gains and clear definitions of innovation or environmental designs. The long-term management strategy must be clearly defined, including proof of monitoring processes. On behalf of my fellow judges and I we look forward to seeing some truly remarkable projects in this category.” Other returning categories include Domestic Garden Construction, Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic), Community and Schools Development, Design Excellence and Affiliate Exceptional Service. Registered members can check out all of this year’s categories on the BALI Awards website here. Alongside an FAQs section, the team at Landscape House have also produced an Entry Guidelines document, which contains information on each category, the deadlines and fees and what the judges are looking for in an award-winning scheme or entry. To help further, members looking to enter are invited to join representatives of the judging panel for a free-to-attend Awards Workshop webinar on 25th March from 3pm-4.30pm. The event will provide an opportunity for members to ask questions about entering, as well as how the judges evaluate and score the submission packs and advice on photography and video. Non-members who are interested in entering and would like to know more about BALI are also welcome to join. Events Project Manager Emily Feeney said, “Today we have not only opened entries but also announced three new positive changes to this year’s Awards which continues to be the ultimate celebration in our industry. We are working with Headline Sponsor Green-tech, our host venue the J W Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London and event partners and sponsors to stage a safe end of year celebration, and we look forward to sharing more with you in the coming months.”
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has awarded its ultimate accolade to Registered Contractor PWP Landscape Design for its stunning BALI National Landscape Awards 2020 entry, a Private Residence in Yorkshire. The formal garden won the Grand Award after being entered into the Domestic Garden Construction – Costs Between £100k-£250k category, sponsored by Registered Affiliate Van den Berk Nurseries. PWP Landscape Design’s Grand Award project saw the installation team tackle an extensive formal garden with a strong axis and layout, providing an enviable outlook from the house with colour and year-round interest. Aggregates, soil, turf, porcelain paving, steels and plant stock had to be craned over the house whilst it was still under construction. The garden includes an extensive lawn, hedges and borders, steel pergola, formal beds and a central sunken walled patio. BALI Chief Executive Wayne Grills commented on their achievement, “PWP Landscape Design has entered our prestigious hall of fame, which includes 44 highly regarded Grand Award winning schemes from the last four decades. Our members, led by PWP Landscape Design, have once again demonstrated they are some of the most talented professionals in the UK, and we rightly celebrate them at the largest landscaping ceremony of its kind in Europe. I am delighted for Adrian, Ian and their team on such a magnificent scheme and I extend my personal congratulations to you, and to all our winners this year. COVID-19 may have placed restrictions on us in 2020, but it has done nothing to stop the quality, dedication and spirit of our members.” On the Grand Award, Chair of the Adjudication Panel John Melmoe said, “Despite unbelievably challenging logistics and having to build this garden whilst the new-build house was under construction, PWP Landscape Design demonstrated superb workmanship across every aspect of the scheme. Precision cutting of the hard elements and expert selection and planting of quality stock has resulted in faultless landscaping perfection and an ecstatic client.” Based in Leeds, PWP Landscape Design specialise in creating distinctive, functional and sustainable outdoor spaces, with a reputation for immaculate attention to detail and innovative design resolution. The team comprises of landscape architects, garden designers and horticulturalists. Due to COVID-19 this year’s ceremony was held virtually, with hundreds of members, guests and VIPs tuning in to watch the special stream as it aired on Friday 4 December. Supported by Headline Sponsor and Registered Affiliate Green-tech, the annual event is a highlight for many in the landscaping calendar and provided the perfect end of year celebration which recognised the skills, hard work, quality, commitment and successes of Registered members. In total 124 entries were judged by BALI adjudicators over the summer with 70. National Landscape Awards bestowed on 49 members in September. Of these 18 Principal and 4 Special Awards were announced during the virtual broadcast, including Specials for Best Design & Build for PWP Landscape Design, Best Newcomer to BALI for Registered Contractor Smart Landscape Design, who also won a Principal for a Private Residence in Bristol, and Best First Time Entrant for Registered Designer Jilayne Rickards MBALI. Jilayne was also presented with Best Use of Recycled & Reclaimed Materials alongside Registered Contractor Landscaping Solutions for their joint work on Principal Award winning scheme The Urban Retreat – London. Registered Contractors idverde, Maylim, Frosts Landscape Construction, Bowles & Wyer, Tivoli Group, Landscape Associates, BlueFish Landscaping Contractors, John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance), Landform Consultants, Green Acorn Landscape Design and Construction and Talbot Farm Landscapes were also awarded Principals in their respective categories. Registered Designer Lynne Marcus MBALI MSGD achieved a Principal for her Private Residence in Pentworth, West Sussex whilst International member DDON Planning & Design Inc. took home a Principal for their spectacular The Taicang Wave Fountain Yard. This year’s Affiliate Exceptional Service Award went to Registered Affiliate CED Stone Group. 2020 was the third year the Awards were successfully delivered by the team at BALI’s Landscape House. Events Project Manager Emily Feeney, who was promoted into the role in August, said, “I am incredibly proud of the achievements of the team in 2020. Once again, the hard work and determination of everyone involved resulted in us hosting a successful virtual ceremony which entertained hundreds of our landscaping colleagues, industry organisations and VIPs. I would like to congratulate PWP Landscape Design and our winners this year, well done to you all. Finally, on behalf of my colleague Diane McCulloch, I would like to extend a special thank you to our sponsors. Without you there would be no ceremony and we truly value your ongoing support.” Although the event was held virtually, members took to social media to share photos of their teams watching the ceremony remotely in a concerted effort not to miss out on the celebrations. BALI’s best dressed competition, which launched several weeks ahead of the ceremony, proved popular with teams sharing snaps of their outfits in the hope of winning a £100 gift voucher. The result will be published on the BALI Awards Twitter and Instagram accounts on Monday 7 December 2020. A full list of award-winners and a description of the winning schemes is available on the BALI Awards website here.
Charcon Hard Landscaping, a division of Aggregate Industries, has completed the development of a central campus square to provide a multi-use outdoor venue at the University of Leicester. The project, which was part of a wider scheme to renovate the area, saw the Fielding Johnson car park transformed into a public space for students and staff, offering the opportunity to hold a wide variety of events. Charcon was appointed for the job to provide a robust solution which would add visual appeal to the campus. Over 1,500m2 of Andover Textured Block Paving in Mid Grey, Silver Grey, Pink Granite and Heather Porphyry was specified for the main central square, having been carefully selected to complement the architectural styling of the campus. A combination of sliver grey concrete aggregate paving was selected for the square, with deeper colours also chosen to add depth. Perfectly suited to high volume pedestrian areas, the Andover Textured Block Paving offers exceptional durability whilst incorporating uniquely formulated Cornish aggregates to provide both enhanced performance and superior aesthetics. The upgraded square, which was designed to create an open space with clear access routes to the surrounding campus buildings, is now being used as a shared area for socialising, relaxing and studying. Since completion, the space has hosted Christmas markets, career festivals and Freshers’ Week activities. Mark Bodman, Director at Barry Chinn Associates, said: “We specifically chose Charcon as opposed to other key manufacturers of hard landscaping as we felt the quality of product successfully met our precise brief. The Andover Textured Block Paving lent itself extremely well to the project as it seamlessly accompanied the surrounding campus aesthetic.” Clinton Young, National Specification Manager at Charcon, said: “This project demonstrated our capabilities perfectly and we’re delighted that we have been able to deliver a full solution to the University of Leicester and we hope that the transformed space can be used to its full potential.” For further information, visit www.charcon.com. For technical support, please call 01335 372 222 or email landscaping@aggregate.com.
idverde landscaping client, Croydon Council, is celebrating the news that Happy Valley Country Park has received a Special Award for Innovation from the Green Flag Award Scheme. The 252-acre green space in Coulsdon is one of just fifteen inspirational parks and green spaces in the UK to achieve the award. It is presented to Green Flag Award or Community Award-winning sites that have made changes which have brought outstanding benefits to both themselves and the local community. The award was given to Happy Valley in recognition of a new hi-tech nature trail, which enables visitors to learn about the wildlife and history of Happy Valley and the adjoining City of London owned open space, Farthing Downs. Walkers can scan QR codes on their mobile device as they walk around the site, opening up web pages that tell them more about the local environment. The trail can also be followed using the GPS feature on visitors’ smartphones. Following the news of the award, Councillor Timothy Godfrey, cabinet member for culture, leisure, and sport, said: “We’re delighted to receive this accolade. This project was brought about by a partnership between the owners of the two open spaces, Croydon Council and the City of London. “I’d like to extend our thanks to Dominic North, the countryside warden for the site, who works for Croydon’s grounds maintenance contractor, idverde Ltd. He worked with the Friends of Farthing Downs to ensure the trail will be a great asset for visitors. “Families, school parties, and anyone with an interest in the wildlife and history of this wonderful area of open countryside can now easily find out more than ever before about the nature and history of the area.” Dominic North, idverde’s countryside warden based at the site added: “I hope that the trail will be a great asset for visitors such as families, school parties and anyone with an interest in the wildlife and history of this wonderful area of open countryside.” Paul Todd, Green Flag Award Scheme manager said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in the Happy Valley and Farthing Downs nature trail, a worthy winner of the Special Innovation Award. Research has proved that quality parks and green spaces play a vital role within their local communities. Happy Valley is a perfect example of this.”
