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28 hosepipe exemption for new planting and turfing

I this morning wrote to Richard Aylard at Thames Water asking for clarification on what the 28 day exemption means.

This morning the ITV website was erroneously [since updated] reporting that the lifting of the hosepipe ban for landscapers and gardeners was in place for four weeks only.

Dear Richard

I wonder if we can issue a statement to clarify the 28 day exemption for landscape and gardening businesses?

Reading through various media sites (this ITV one is a classic example http://www.itv.com/news/london/2012-05-21/hosepipe-ban-relaxed-for-gardening-firms/) it states that the lifting of the ban is temporary [or that's how they are reading the 28 day rule].

We understand it that a 28 day period of exemption starts from the installation of turf and/or plants and that a new 28 day exemption period starts as and when a new project is completed.

Could you please send me clarification of this so that I may update my members?

Your advice is especially welcome during this current period of warm/hot weather.

Richard Aylard responded very swiftly. In the interests of transparency I have published his response below, in full.

Dear Phil

I agree that some of the coverage has been unhelpful in terms of getting the facts across.

Please feel free to make it clear that the purpose of the exemption is to allow gardening businesses to continue operating throughout the remainder of the temporary use ban.

The industry has explained that the key is to have a 28 day period at the end of every job during which newly planted turf, plants and trees can be watered. We have accepted this, subject to following the Codes of Practice that we have agreed between us.

So, for the sake of clarity, this is not a temporary exemption (though of course it would be open to us to withdraw the exemption if that became necessary).

The 28 day period during which a hosepipe may be used following planting applies to every job undertaken by gardening businesses. To put it another way, each job has its own 28 day period.

I am copying this to Nick Ellins at Water UK, Tim Briercliffe at HTA and Tim Mudge at TGA.

Simon - please ask ITV to correct their website.

Regards

Richard

A landscaper's view - RHS Chelsea: where are the 99%?

Landscaper Nicky Patterson makes some sobering points about the reality void that exists between make believe of the Chelsea flower show and real world commercial gardening.

The environmentalist John Vidal wrote yesterday (22nd May 2012) in his piece - The Chelsea flower show is nature for the 1% - that RHS Chelsea epitomises a surreal version of nature so cherished and exalted by London's wealthy "garden enthusiasts", writes Nicky Patterson.

"But gawd bless the Chelsea flower show in these straitened times. This glorious jubilee year we can still buy a conservatory for a knock-down £700,000, a sundial for £60,000, a gate for £10,000 and a gothic folly complete with real gold stars for just £60,000. This may be the best place in the world to buy a beehive (without bees) for £10,000 or a sculpture covered in 23.5 carat gold. In the parallel universe of London SW3, bird boxes cost more per square foot than just about any house north of Watford."

New mirrored figures at David Marshall Lodge offer otherworldly experience

(click to enlarge photo)

A new art installation at Aberfoyle's David Marshall Lodge in the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park is helping to reinvigorate the forest and board walks at the visitor centre.

Part of Forestry Commission Scotland’s ongoing re-development programme to refresh and improve the visitor experience at the centre, the six eerily beautiful male and female figures – Vestige – were created by artist, Rob Mullholland

The piece represents the faint traces of the people and communities that once occupied and lived in this space.

Yell declines further as digital fails to fill the print gap

Former directory giant Yell has announced further losses as its digital media failed to cover the losses made by its traditional directories' business.

Group revenue weighed in at over £1.6 billion but losses after tax were a staggering £1.18 billion.

What's probably most worrying for the heavily indebted Yell group is the decline in visitors to its digital directories. Massive competition from Facebook, Google, Twitter and other social media means it's not essential for the consumer to use Yell when there are so many services available.

Operational headlines

• Total digital revenue increased by 7%, rising from 24% to 29% of revenue
• Total digital customers grew by 4% to 941,000
• Annual digital revenue per advertiser fell by 5% to £496
• Live customer websites increased by 39% to 322,000
• Digital directories visitors declined 17% to 46m in March, but increased 10% on
• December
• Mobile directories visitors were 4m in March
• Print advertisers reduced by 14% to 1,030,000
• Print revenue per advertiser decreased by 7% to £980

Groundsman in crisis

It was a good two years ago that we first met Dennis, I'm calling him that to protect his privacy we all know that isn't his real name but the rest is real, writes Lindsey Churchill.

Age Concern called me to say that they were concerned about a gentleman who had been a council groundsman till ill health forced early retirement aged 60, they felt he needed some support.

I visited Dennis in his tiny rented flat, it took him some time to open the door due to the mountain of unopened post that lay behind it. Dennis told me that since retiring he had struggled to live off of his small works pension and so had started up in self employment but after three years he could go on no longer and had simply lived off of his savings.

Landscapers and gardeners get 28 day hosepipe exemption

A truly stunning campaign by the landscape and horticulture industry has seen our collective efforts result in a 28 exemption to allow businesses to water in newly laid turf and plants for a period of 28 days.

I think it's the first time that we've seen this much depth of feeling leading so many to unify and work so hard in petitioning for the water companies to change policy. We must now work to get a hosepipe exemption enshrined in law for the future.

The Horticulture Trades Association were delighted when drip irrigation was allowed but, as Landscape Juice pointed out, and the HTA were later to concede, drip irrigation was of little use and little comfort.

Mark Gregory said: "using drip-irrigation systems were not practical options for the turf industry in most cases."

Landscape Juice Network members led a campaign to change minds and as a result mobilised others who latterly upped their game.

Landscape Juice has always maintained that only a total exemption for the watering of both turf and plants would be of use to landscapers and gardeners and we asked our readers and members to help overturn the ban.

Well done to those who have worked so hard behind the scenes but let's not stop there, there's more to be done.

Malvern Spring Show 2012 review

Report on Spring Garden Show at The Three Counties Showground Malvern 2012, by Claudia de Yong.

Driving towards Malvern on the first day of the 2012 Spring Show, the low dark clouds obscured the lovely hills and the natural beauty of the area.

Despite the weather, I was excited to come to this wonderful county and walk around the first RHS garden show of the year, which takes place in the Three Counties Showground nestling in the valley below the Malvern Hills. Being a purpose made showground makes this event easier to navigate around and more substance.

In some senses it mirrors a show like Tatton or Hampton Court but on other levels it is a strange mixture of agricultural buildings housing local crafts and food from the farmers market.

Short break for a long standing wall at Gardening Scotland

A seven metre long stretch of wall that has stood in a Perthshire estate for almost 100 years is to be taken down and moved stone-by-stone to Edinburgh for just three days before being rebuilt in its original position.

The wall, which is covered in moss and lichen, currently forms part of a paddock on the Lanrick Estate near Doune. However for a brief spell it will be part of the ‘Legacy’ show garden being built by Jayne Whitehead of Ivy Maud Design on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support at Gardening Scotland 2012.

Bradstone hard landscaping create living wall at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Bradstone’s Panache paving range will be used to unite landscaping and nature in an innovative Fresh garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Created as part of the Chris Beardshaw Mentoring Scholarship by 2011 CBMS Scholar, Caroline Butler, energy and vitality inspired by woodland regeneration is the focus of The Bradstone Panache Garden which features a number of experimental design elements including a unique living wall.

In a creative display of how hard landscaping can be used to create areas for nature and life as well as functional garden spaces, an ascending curved living wall which encircles the garden has been created through an unconventional use of Panache edging in a variety of contemporary shades to suggest the staggered tree trunks of a wood.

Chocolate shades of Panache paving have been used to create the feel of an earthy woodland track glistening in the sunlight through the garden.

UK wood production and trade figures published

The latest provisional national statistics on UK wood production and trade produced by the Forestry Commission were released today, 17 May 2012, in accordance with the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.

These statistics include data on production, imports and exports of roundwood (logs) and wood products for the UK for the calendar years 2007 to 2011.

The key points from the latest release are:

Removals (harvesting) of UK roundwood in 2011 comprised:

• 9.9 million green tonnes of softwood; a 7 per cent increase from 2010; and
• 0.5 million green tonnes of hardwood; a 1 per cent increase from 2010.

British still spending on gardens says HSBC survey

Households are defying the financial climate and increasing spend on landscaping to spruce up their garden and boost property value, according to a new survey.

The annual HSBC Gardens Survey found that Brits will spend an average of £83 on garden improvements, including landscaping, this year - a 10% increase since 2011.

• Brits increase spend on landscaping, boosting property value
• As a nation the UK will spend £3.9bn on gardens in 2012
• Spend on garden accessories such as BBQs and water features down to just £27

The figure increases to £148 in both North West and South West England, compared to just £20 in the London, where many householders can only dream of a large garden.

Umbrageous Places - Tanya's successful Malvern with first ever show garden

Tanya Batkin had never designed a show garden before, so when an opportunity came along to design a show garden for the Malvern Spring Show she jumped at the chance.

Despite the weather and the challenges of sourcing plants and getting everything together at the right time Tanya pulled it off and won the people's choice award to boot raising £1,000 for the Thrive and Perennial charities.

Tanya even received praise from two celebrity gardeners.

I spoke to Tanya about her achievement.

Listen to Tanya talk about her Malvern experience (14mins)

Image: Tanya Batkin and Chris Beardshaw standing beside the Painting with Plants themed garden.

Apologies for the sound vibration.

Poor weather hits Marshalls sales - caution remains

The landscape industry sees little signs of picking up as proved today by the release of Marshalls' interim trading statement.

Sales were hit hard by poor weather and a flat commercial market.

In this morning's statement release Marshalls report a 3% decrease in revenue compared with the same period last year.

Citing poor weather, Marshalls said: "After a satisfactory first quarter, sales did not show their usual post Easter uplift. Working conditions in April were disappointing, hampering sales and obscuring underlying market trends. The rainfall in April of 138 mm* (2011: 14 mm; 2010: 27 mm) has been an important factor in the reduction in sales of £5 million (equivalent to 3 days' installations) in the month compared with last year."

It is business as usual at Q Lawns despite hosepipe ban

The Turf Growers Association have said that the hosepipe ban is having an adverse affect on the turf industry.

"Those questioned reported with actual sales lost of between 25% and 40%, compared to the same time period last year. The outlook is bleak, with some companies estimating a fall of up to 60% of sales within the affected regions."

But there is at least one company who've not been troubled.

I recently spoke to Angela Lambert at Q Lawns about the ban and what 2012 holds for them as the water restrictions take effect.

Demelza Hospice to benefit from Tammy's Three Peaks Challenge

The MD of the Millbrook Garden Company is taking part in this month's Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for a local hospice.

From May 14, Tammy Woodhouse, who runs garden centres in Gravesend and Crowborough, will climb the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland in aid of Demelza Hospice Care for Children.

The 38-year-old, who lives in Tunbridge Wells, said: “I am very excited about taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge. The peaks I will be climbing in three days are Snowdon in Wales, Scafell Pike in England and Ben Nevis in Scotland.

“I thought this would be a fantastic challenge and a great way to raise money for Demelza Hospice Care for Children, which is The Millbrook Garden Company Limited’s chosen charity for 2012.