Last week I attended The Landscape Show at the NEC as an invited guest of the Gardeners Guild who had a stand at the show. I had also been asked to speak about the role of a consultant at one of the many trade seminars being held over the two days of the show.
The show says they attract garden designers, landscape architects, landscape contractors, local authority landscaping professionals, architects, architectural technologists, facilities managers and interior designers from all over the UK and beyond.
It has been a while since I last visited this event, however with over 100 exhibitors at the show there was plenty of businesses to talk to. I managed to catch up with the likes of David Austin Roses, the RHS, White Horse Contractors, and Wayne Grills, chief executive of Bali (British Association Landscape Industries) who, like many other leading professionals, are working hard to promote the benefits of working in this industry.
Right; Wayne Grills, chief executive of BALI
I, along with Kevin Downs another member of the The Gardeners Guild, and Gary Edwards the MD / owner of the Gardeners Guild gave a 45-minute talk on the role of a garden consultant to an enthusiastic audience of landscape professionals.
The Gardeners Guild (TGG) is a business support service for self-employed gardeners. Gardeners are accepted for membership on the basis of their professional qualifications.
L-R: Kevin Downs and Gary Edwards on the Gardeners Guild stand
The Gardeners Guild is a privately owned commercial service and is not a member-owned campaign association or lobby group. It is not a consumer organisation and membership is primarily for the benefit of the member.
I personally have found the Gardeners Guild to be very supportive and offers plenty of advice to practicing professionals - as well has giving you leads to a wide range of diverse customers who are seeking advice or work from members.
Pride Park, Derby
After a few hours at the show I then made my way from Birmingham to Pride Park.,home of Derby County FC, where I had been invited to attend the Dennis / SISIS 100th year celebrational dinner.
I, along with other members of the trade press, dealers, clients and the whole of the Dennis / SISIS staff and their partners were invited to celebrate this significant milestone.
After an enjoyable three course dinner, Ian Howard gave a passionate speech that talked about the history of the company, and how it had developed into one of the world’s most widely known mower brands. This year for example, once again sees their mowers being used at the World Cup finals.
Chris Woods and me
It was nice to catch up with some of our finest ambassadors of our industry; Richard Campey; Geoff Webb; Jim Croxton; Ian Howard; along with some current top grounds professionals; Keith Kent, Karl McDermott; Steve Birks; Neil Godrich; Dougie Robertson; Andy Croft; Chris Woods; Ian Smith and Paul Ashcroft to name a few.
Tractor driving proposed changes
As for other news, I read with interest that Department of Transport is in consultation and looking at possibly changing the licence requirements for driving a tractor on the road into line with the heavy goods vehicles regime. See article HGV licence for tractors? in The Scottish Farmer.
Proposals within a UK Government consultation include moving the licence requirement for agricultural tractors from a category F to a category C - and if this were to come into place, tractor drivers could face training and additional tests which currently costs lorry drivers thousands of pounds and can take months to complete the entire process.
I’m sure if this is the case, there’s going to be a lot of questions needed to be asked regarding how this will affect our bespoke industry?
NFU Scotland’s transport adviser Jamie Smart is quoted as saying, “My initial take on this online consultation is that it is an overreaction that would make it extremely difficult to attract and maintain the workforce required by the agricultural industry were all tractor drivers to require an HGV licence to drive a tractor. “I believe these proposals have more to do with addressing competition with the haulage industry rather than road safety around the use of tractors. “Existing rules, if sensibly enforced by the relevant authorities, already prevent competition with the road haulage industry.
“I believe that would take away concerns over competition rather than require the need for overly tough licensing arrangements for tractor drivers. “I can understand concerns around tractors on road safety grounds, but these proposals go too far for those driving vehicles that don’t go faster than 40mph and only travel over short distances. “It is already a challenge for people to get a tractor or car driving test and any additional requirements would make it increasingly difficult for young people in rural areas to qualify. “That is a worry when we are already short of numbers for a skilled, trained workforce.
Finally, just a few reminders of what industry events we can look forward to in the coming months:
Amenity Forum Annual Conference, Kettering, 13th October
GMA Saltex, NEC Birmingham 2nd and 3rd of November
BIGGA BTME, Harrogate, 24th-26th January 2023
