Friday (7 December) at the 42nd BALI National Landscape Awards, BALI Registered Contractor Bowles & Wyer received the coveted Grand Award for a Private Residence in the Chilterns, the stunning implementation of a garden design by BALI Registered Designer Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson. A BALI member since 1993 and winner of numerous BALI Awards, including the Grand Award and the Design & Build Award in 2010, Bowles & Wyer impressed the BALI Adjudication Panel with this year’s scheme. The BALI National Landscape Awards, with headline sponsor Green-tech, are held annually at London’s Grosvenor House on Park Lane and are the largest landscape Awards in Europe. They recognise excellence in landscape design, construction and maintenance, and in Affiliate customer service, achieved by Registered members of the British Association of Landscape Industries. 127 entries were judged this year and 101 National Awards made. The Awards ceremony was hosted by popular sports journalist and breakfast TV presenter Dan Walker, who addressed the record-breaking audience of over 1000 BALI members and guests during the luncheon and joined Awards sponsors on stage to present the 29 Principal and 3 Special Awards. The presentation of the Grand Award to Bowles & Wyer’s Managing Director Dan Riddleston was made by headline sponsor Green-tech’s Sales Director, Richard Gill. VIP guests this year included Sue Biggs CBE, Director General of the Royal Horticultural Society; Adam White, President and Daniel Cook, Chief Executive of the Landscape Institute; Sarah Morgan, Chair of the Society of Garden Designers; Matthew Bradbury, Chair of The Parks Alliance; and Rod Winrow, Chairman of the Association of Professional Landscapers. Bowles & Wyer, which is based in Bedfordshire, received the Grand Award – BALI’s highest accolade – at this year’s ceremony for their landscaping of a Private Residence in the Chilterns. The BALI Awards adjudication panel highlighted the sheer scale of the project, from the initial major earthworks and installation of attenuation draining to the outstanding hard paving and construction of multiple walls and terraces. The stunning planting schemes in a series of garden rooms had, said the judges, “also benefitted from the expert horticultural hands of the contractor”, making it a worthy recipient of the Grand Award. Bowles & Wyer is no stranger to BALI Awards success and has a long track record of delivering exceptional schemes, in both the domestic and commercial markets. Commenting on the company’s achievement, outgoing chair of the adjudication panel Greg Allen said: “It is wonderful to see a private garden scheme winning the Grand Award. The complexity and challenges of this project belie what is a simply beautiful and tranquil space. Designed to create a series of garden rooms, each with their own ambience and interest, this scheme is proof that however good a design may be it relies entirely for its truthful implementation on the skill and expertise of the contractor. Bowles & Wyer has demonstrated its professional excellence across the board and the judges’ decision to recognise the company’s achievements was unanimous.”  A full list of award-winners and a description of the winning schemes is available on BALI’s website here. Benefitting from a collection at the event, this year’s chosen charities were Greenfingers Charity, which creates beautiful outdoor spaces in hospices for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families, and the BALI Chalk Fund, which supports education and training in the landscape sector, including the BALI GoLandscape careers outreach initiative. The total amount raised was £5,353.  

It is fair to say that if you are thinking about renovating your garden you feel like you have a job on your hands. It is not just a question of moving plants from one part of the garden to another. A full-on renovation may see you have trees and bushes to remove. You may want to get rid of or reposition paving slabs or pathways. You may be considering laying new paving. Garden renovation is difficult work but it can be made easy with the right tools. If you are an avid DIY enthusiast or you own a small home improvement business, using tool hire will save you money and do the lion’s share of the work. A true win–win scenario. Before you start Renovating your Garden Before you start renovating your garden, make a plan. This will give you ideas and help you pinpoint exactly what you want to do in your garden renovation. From here you can prioritise the list of jobs. If you are working for a client and not undertaking a DIY project you may have your client’s plan to work to. If you do not, It is essential that you and your client agree exactly what you are going to do before you unleash a mini digger on their favourite flower bed. Once you have your plan play around with ideas. You probably have a broad idea at how you want things to look, but you will probably find that your project takes a new life as new ideas bed down into your plan. Decide how much maintenance you are prepared to do when deciding what plants to use in your garden, and take a few visits to garden centres so you can see what’s possible. Make a List of Priorities Once you have a plan decide what to do in order of when you need to do it. This will help you schedule when to arrange tool hire and this gives you a broad idea of how long your project will take. It is good practise to build in a little extra time as problems always arise. Excavation Unless your project is small in scope, you will probably need to clear away a large part of your garden if not all of it. You have big DIY ideas and this needs to be done. This is where mini digger hire saves you money and allows you to excavate your garden effectively giving you a blank canvass to work with. Mini diggers are an invaluable tool when renovating your garden. If you are a home improvement business they not only provide a cost effective way of taking on bigger work, they also avoid a range of headaches such as planned maintenance and servicing, and paying for repairs should your mini digger develop a fault. Once you have the digger you should be able to clear away as much of the garden as you need to quickly. This is just the beginning, however, as the next phase may involve laying pathways and patios, planting, building and possibly plumbing and electrical work. As an enthusiastic DIY person or home improvement business owner, you have your work cut out! Garden Renovation Equipment Tool Hire Other tools you may need to hire to handle the heavy loads include: Skip – You need to put the rubbish somewhere and skips are the best option. This makes rubbish removal easy and you don’t have to keep doing dump runs to get rid of your rubbish, delaying the project and adding on costs. Cement Mixers – If you’re laying patios or paths you want to be able to mix large volumes of concrete. Cement mixers are perfect for this task and speed up the laying process considerably. Rollers – Rollers compact soil, asphalt, and gravel and as such give the perfect foundation to make your garden renovation come to life. Some you push by hand. For bigger projects ride on rollers are available. Chainsaw – If you want to fell a tree you will need a chainsaw to do this job. Unless you’ll need a chainsaw for a considerable amount of work, it makes sense to hire one from a good tool hire shop. Wood Cutting Equipment – If you are planning to build wooden structures in your garden, being able to cut wood accurately and easily is necessary. There are plenty of options to choose from so finding the right saw for what you need to accomplish should be straightforward and help you complete your tasks faster and more accurately. Once the heavy work is out the way you can start developing your garden renovation. For this, a different set of tools is needed. As a minimum you will need: Wheelbarrow Garden Trowels Garden Gloves Hand Pruners And Loppers Plant Dividing Tools Garden Hose Reel Cart Garden Forks Shovel Wide Brimmed Hat On a final note, many hands make light work. If you are doing a DIY project recruit as many friends and family to help.

Contemporary house design often focuses on the use of space and light especially if the design is bespoke. Clients that can afford it often want homes that are more integrated than they once were. Gone are separate rooms for kitchens and dining areas. These spaces are merely separated by space. The same can be said of other features such as staircases. One look at contemporary staircases online and it is clear that spiral staircases are the new normal. Not only do they allow access to the upper levels but are very much a design feature. With this in mind, let us take a look at how to design a house with a big garden. Bringing the Garden into the Home When the garden is large and spacious it becomes a design feature. Unlike smaller homes where the garden is defined, a house can be created to give panoramic and 360-degree views of the garden. This calls for big windows letting the outside colours and light come into the home. Landscaping It is important that the feel of the garden matches the architectural style of the house. For example, the house might be of a traditional, stately home design. As such hedges, clipped lawns, and statues may fit well in the garden. Should the house be more modern a more modern approach to the garden will be needed. As with all things balance and a blend is required to avoid the space looking disjointed. Features As the garden gives more room to work and be creative, you can utilise this to allow for better features for the house. Consider using features such as balconies and glass to maximise views. Good use of living space can really bring the house alive. Adding features such as outdoor stair kits can make the garden accessible from different places and the house accessible from the garden.  Consider using them to utilise the space and add features. Think about what can be seen in the garden from the house. You might want a water feature to be visible or the view beyond the garden might be breathtaking and awe-inspiring. Both of these things add value to a home. Also, good design can hide views which are less savoury. Split level gardens are a good way to partition off different areas without putting up obtrusive fences and other physical barriers. This allows you to make a social, kids, and other areas clear which is heaven sent for most families. Lighting Lighting is important on a number of levels when the garden is a large space. You want the main living areas to be positioned to get the most light and any design should incorporate this. You also want to ensure that the position of the house does not block out light to parts of the garden that need it, such as flowerbeds and vegetable patches. With good design houses and gardens can merge together to make amazing living spaces. A little thought, a little creativity can work wonders to produce the best homes on both an aesthetic and practical level.

With the awards ceremony fast approaching, 67 BALI members of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) have now been informed they have won a BALI National Landscape Award, with some members successful in more than one category. This year’s Awards, which are now run in-house by the BALI team at Landscape House, sees 101 National Awards made by the adjudication panel, which is chaired by landscape consultant and former senior lecturer in landscape studies at Writtle College, Greg Allen. Following a summer of visiting every entry, Greg and his team of judges – John Melmoe, Richard Barnard, Jason Lock, Robin Templar Williams, Steve Roberts, Andrew Legg and Mick Callahan – met at BALI Landscape House in late August for the adjudication process that selects the award-winning schemes. Judges Madge Moore, Peter Jennins OBE and Nick Coslett also put forward their recommendations for the Affiliate Exceptional Service awards and the Employer Excellence awards, which were subsequently considered by the wider panel. Deliberations over the 127 entries took three days, at the end of which the list of winners was confirmed.   Reflecting on this year’s process, Greg said: “What a difference this year’s magnificent summer has made to the judges’ task of visiting the BALI Awards entries, albeit a real challenge for BALI members faced with drought conditions in many parts of the country. Keeping their schemes looking at their best for judging has certainly called on every ounce of their horticultural expertise!   “We have been delighted with the achievements of BALI contractors and designers this year and, as always, the hardest task has been to stick to our stringent criteria and only reward real excellence across the board. In previous years this approach has inevitably resulted in disappointment for a percentage of members who, although justly proud of their schemes, had yet to achieve the exemplary standard required by the BALI Awards. This year, however, 77 per cent of entries receive an award, which speaks volumes for the incredibly high standards BALI members are now achieving. We offer our very sincere congratulations to those who have attained that level and are on our list of winners, and would encourage those who have not been successful this year to strive again next year to make the list and experience the thrill and satisfaction of winning a BALI National Landscape Award.”   BALI’s Chief Executive, Wayne Grills, added: “The standard of entries this year has been really spectacular, indicating that private, commercial and public clients are prepared to invest in quality to achieve the schemes they want. Our members have delivered on a grand scale. They have used the latest techniques, technology and materials to push the boundaries in terms of solving the design, construction and maintenance challenges presented by budget constraints and climatic conditions.   “The Awards also give us the opportunity to recognise both BALI Affiliate members who constantly deliver outstanding customer service, and companies from across the BALI membership who are exemplars in terms of their responsibilities as employers. I am always in awe of our members’ achievements and offer my very sincere congratulations to every one of this year’s winners.”   BBC Breakfast anchor and sports journalist Dan Walker will host the ceremony at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London, on Friday, 7 December when the winners of the Principal and Special Awards, and the coveted Grand Award, will be announced. Full details of the winning entries can be found at baliawards.co.uk along with booking details for the Awards Ceremony.   The 2018 National Award winners are: Domestic Garden Construction – cost under £30k – sponsored by Derbyshire Aggregates Sandstone Design Solutions for Uplands Cottage Graduate Gardeners for Private Residence in Cheltenham Langlea Garden Design & Construction for Victorian Flavour Domestic Garden Construction – cost between £30k–£60k – sponsored by Gabriel Ash The Landscaping Consultants for Rose Bank PWP Landscape for Farm House Land Design Partnership for Elm Park Gardens Domestic Garden Construction – cost between £60k–£100k – sponsored by Johnsons of Whixley HG Landscapes for Private Residence in Kensington Graduate Gardeners for Yorkstone Terrace Land Design Partnership for Private Residence in Greenwich Graduate Gardeners for An Entertaining Courtyard Langlea Garden Design & Construction for Private Residence in Washington Domestic Garden Construction – cost between £100k–£250k – sponsored by Van den Berk Nurseries Tony Benger Landscaping for St Michael’s Mount Northumbrian Landscaping for For Your Eyes Only Landscaping Solutions for Private Residence in Barnet Graduate Gardeners for Private Residence in Painswick PC Landscapes for Private Residence in Ashstead PC Landscapes for Private Residence in Winchester Domestic Garden Construction – cost over £250k – sponsored by Europlants UK Landform Consultants for Private Residence in Leeds Buckland Landscapes for From Pit to Picture Gavin Jones for Private Residence in Kensington Esse Landscapes for Tickerage Mill Clifton Nurseries for Little Frankley Bowles & Wyer for Private Residence in Tring Landscape Associates for Private Residence in London Soft Landscaping Construction (Non-Domestic) – cost under £300k – sponsored by Adtrak Grace Landscapes for National Memorial Arboretum – Heroes’ Square and The Boyes Garden Goddards (Landscape Contractors) for Lillie Square Phase 1-1A Frosts Landscape Construction for London Wall Place Goddards (Landscape Contractors) for Olympic Way Zone A Tree Planting Soft Landscaping Construction (Non-Domestic) – cost between £300k-£1.5m – sponsored by Todds Nursery Alfie Bines Gardens for Buxmead Kingston Landscape Group for Colindale Gardens Kingston Landscape Group for Streatham Hill Frosts Landscape Construction for Holland Park Villas Hard Landscaping Construction (Non-Domestic) – cost under £300k – sponsored by Vander Moortel NV Blakedown Landscapes (SE) for The Royal Ballet School Brambledown Landscape Services for Segendunum Roman Fort Hard Landscaping Construction (Non-Domestic) – cost between £300k–£1.5m  –  sponsored by CWS Group idverde for Theatre Square, Royal National Theatre Hard Landscaping Construction (Non-Domestic) – cost over £1.5 million sponsored by Bourne Amenity Endrick Landscapes for Structural Landscape Works Blakedown Landscapes (SE) for Natural History Museum Maylim for Rathbone Square Blakedown Landscapes (SE) for Queen’s Square Frosts Landscape Construction for London Wall Place Horticon for Knowsley

BALI, through its nationwide GoLandscape initiative, has supported BALI Training Provider member Capel Manor College in developing and launching a brand new Advanced Diploma in Landscape Construction (Level 3). Endorsed by employers within the industry, a crucial element of this new Diploma, the course offers a unique opportunity for students to develop both technical and business skills. Capel Manor College developed the course based on the recent GoLandscape skills survey that was circulated to all BALI members earlier this year. The course has been designed based on that feedback, with input directly from landscape businesses, many of whom are BALI members. The course will also incorporate the BALI Chalk Fund sponsored additional tickets. Modules on the course will include living walls, water management/SUDS, surveying and construction drawings, business practice and project management, paving, timber and brickwork, water features and the use of plants in landscaping schemes and show garden builds. A block of work experience, which forms part of the course, is also being supported by BALI members who have agreed to provide placements. BALI’s Technical Officer (Quality Assurance) Richard Gardiner said ”It’s great to see a land-based college continually thinking about how they can improve their offering to students and the industry they serve. Hard landscaping, in particular, seems to have been overlooked by colleges for some time and I am delighted that Capel Manor College has developed this qualification in response to industry feedback.” BALI’s Education Officer, Stephen Ensell, who is responsible for delivering GoLandscape, said ”The fact that Capel Manor College has taken the lead and approached the industry to support them in developing a hard landscape qualification is a great encouragement. It means that students now have an entry point to gain the very best, most up-to-date skills and experience to help them enter the landscaping industry.” The Diploma will be taught at Capel Manor College’s Enfield campus and can be studied on a full or part-time basis with an optional unit selection. Successful completion of this course will enable students to begin a career in landscape construction or progress to a degree level course. Sarah Seery, Head of School for Horticulture and Landscaping at Capel Manor College, says “We’re incredibly excited to have partnered with BALI in the creation of our new Advanced Diploma in Landscape Construction. As London’s leading land-based college, renowned for our exceptional courses in horticulture and landscaping, the unique opportunity to create a course in collaboration with a leading trade association has been warmly welcomed by the college community and endorsed by employers. Details on the course can be found on Capel’s website here. The first course starts w/c 10 September but Capel Manor College have confirmed that they will still accept entries at this stage.