HortWeek Podcast

In this bumper episode, BALI Grand Award winners, Maylim managing director and owner Thomas O'Mahony, and business development director Alistair Bayford reflect on the accomplishment and the project that won them the top honours. 

O'Mahony puts the win down to the complex logistics of the Exchange Square project, which sits on a podium above Liverpool Street Station. He and Bayford explore these elements which would see the slightest movement from the slabs above halt the trains below. These complex engineering projects are Maylim’s bread and butter, though, as Bayford explains: “here you see everyone running away, we run towards. It’s in our DNA.”

O'Mahony talks about Triton Square one of the projects on Maylim’s books which might be seen at future BALI Awards, which is adding upping the 'green' in a 'grey' landscape:

“20 years ago public realm was more hard landscaping, and more grey.” Bayford adds: “Now it's a complex mix of seating spaces within soft areas. Primarily designed to get people to stay, and to eat, and to gather. All public realm is starting to go that way. There are benefits everywhere.”

Though there is worry that biodiversity net gain will become a tick boxing exercise, O'Mahony says Maylim’s clients don’t have that mindset. Bayford also hopes that it will be a catalyst for long term commitments in green infrastructure. 

Celebrating 20 years of success last year, O'Mahony also touches on Maylim's values: “From the outset of what I dreamed the company to be, it's a brand that looks good, feels good, delivers good quality work and our saying is ‘We never leave a bad job behind’.” He adds: “We never set ourselves to grow to a certain turnover [...] we just love what we do.”

The focus for the next 20 years, Bayford explains, will be the environment and Maylim’s carbon reduction journey as well as addressing the diversity conundrum and the skills shortage.

Addressing the recruitment challenge, O'Mahony says looking after the existing staff is key, so “hopefully then the murmur goes round that ‘these people look after you’.”

O'Mahony and Bayford also introduce new venture, Maylim Landscapes, which will specialise in the soft landscaping side of the business. 

“The last 12 months have been as challenging as I’ve seen,” O'Mahony tells us, as he explores the difficulties around material shortages and price increases. Now, he explains they go in with an open mind at a tender stage, with some prices they can fix and some they know they can’t. Bayford says he feels they have “flushed out the worst of that inflationary risk.” 

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This week, Jo Davey of Whartons Roses joins the Horticulture Week Podcast and speaks about the rose market, trends, new promotions, supply and demand and sustainability.

Recently. after 35 years at the helm of Whartons Garden Roses, managing director Robert Wharton has become chairman, stepping aside for Paul Wharton to take on the role of managing director. Supporting Paul, in the new role of sales and marketing director, is Jo Davey, who joined the business in 2019 as marketing manager. 

The Norfolk nursery, which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2022, produces over 1.5 million roses each year for the retail market.

Whartons is running peat-free trials, but Davey says they are tougher for a one-genus plant nursery, as moving from peat-based to peat-free is an all or nothing move. Whartons' new reservoir will help beat drought issues also affecting the industry.

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ICL technical manager Sam Rivers talks to HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby about ChatGPT, an new artificial intelligence chatbot that could be useful for answering horticultural questions.

Rivers explains how queries are answered by ChatGPT and what the benefits and concerns are and whether the programme has a role for professionals.

He live tests ChatGPTs knowledge of biostimulants, fertilisers and pests and diseases and assesses the programme and its responses.

Finally we really put ChatGPT to the test and find it if it can choose a favourite plant!

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This week's Horticulture Week Podcast welcomes Burpee Seeds' sales and marketing director Simon Crawford and commercial director Andrew Mellowes.

Burpee Europe’s focus on the breeding and development of new varieties of vegetables, fruit and flowers for the home gardener market has seen the team enjoy a steady rise in seed sales and has provoked a need for larger premises.

Andrew Mellowes, formerly of Woodlodge and Gardman, is replacing sales and marketing director Simon Crawford who is retiring at the end of 2023.

Mellowes has made the big change to the live products side of horticulture, but after more than 20 years in the industry sees many of the same challenges - no year is normal and having a reliable supply of product is essential, he says.

However, he agrees that post-Brexit and Covid, 2023 is more likely to be nearer 'normal' than the past three years and is seeing a cautious optimism among customers.

Crawford is BPOA vice chairman and sees supply of peat-free growing media as one of the biggest challenges ahead:

"There's still a long way to go, but finding alternatives to coir and to wood chip to produce good quality reliable substrates is absolutely vital...unless we get good substrates, the industry is going to be threatened, I really do believe that."

Brexit meant Burpee had to set up a Netherlands office so it can export seed. But tougher plant health requirements for imports are a good thing, he says, drought resistance is a focus and blight-resistant tomatoes including new launches Bliss, Toddler and Black Moon. 

Burpee is celebrating its first Fleuroselect gold medal winner, Helianthus Desire Red. Crawford has helped organise the 3-6 July Fleuroselect convention, which will visit RHS Hyde Hall Floral Fantasia, Mr Fothergill's and Floranova.

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Marking International Women's Day this episode hears from arborist and World Champion tree climber, Jo Hedger.

One of still relatively few women in the sector, she talks about the myriad challenges of running a business -Arbor Venture Tree Care - and avoiding getting trapped in the office.

But from early in her career, Hedger found a passion and skill for climbing trees and is now a 6-times European and 5-times World champion.

"It's really benefited myself as an arborist", she says.

"The whole reason for the competition originally was to educate the public on what an arborist is.

"If you know nothing about climbing and you were just spectating, they are fascinating because you have no idea that people can move that freely through the trees."

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Garden designer Camellia Taylor came to the discipline via work with young people on the autism spectrum, women that had experienced domestic violence and a Masters in speech and language therapy.

During a career break prompted by the birth of her two children she began to connect her interest in psychology with nature and a passion for plants. She went on to study for her RHS Level 2 and a garden design qualification at Hadlow College after which she set her own design studio in Kent.

She cemented the integration of nature and psychology with an Eco-sensory course and it is central to the way she works with clients on her garden designs. This includes close attention to the needs, sometimes conflicting, of the users of the garden, catering to the different senses and the many qualities of plants.

Taylor is currently working on a sensory garden for charity Aspens which provides residential living for people on the autism spectrum and learning disabilities as well as day facilities. She talks about how her association with Aspens came about and how a proposal from Project Giving Back led her to become the designer of

The Natural Affinity Garden - set to be showcased at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this May.

She says: "I think Project Giving Back is incredible; it's such a great opportunity. It shines a light on charities that otherwise wouldn't be there... it gives designers a chance to be at this incredible show... they link the designer and the charity together so beautifully."

Using a muted colour palette provides a calming environment for those on the autistic spectrum but, as Taylor explains, stimulation can be found by actively engaging with the planting through taste, hearing and the garden's tactile qualities.

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New HTA president Alan Down talks about high priority issues in horticulture such as biosecurity and peat in the latest HortWeek podcast.

The former Cleeve Nursery garden centre owner, writer and TV and radio broadcaster, studied at Cannington and Pershore. He has worked in Germany, for Hillier and on a Nuffield farming scholarship. He and wife Felicity founded Cleeve Nursery 40 years ago and sold it five years ago. He says the biggest change in the plantarea in that time is the increase in imports, driven by the ease of bringing plants into the UK.

"Why wouldn't the Government be interested in [UK hort business accreditation scheme] Plant Healthy?" he asks, with food production possibly threatened by imported pests and diseases and ash dieback's cost to be paid out of the public purse.

On peat, he says things are moving in the right direction but there's lots of work to do to find suitable alternatives and the Government should get more involved in supporting that quest for alternatives. The HTA is "working towards 2030" as an end date but there could be issues with Parliamentary time and there are alternatives that still need to be found.

He talks about the many nurseries he has visited and why they are good. He reflects on changes in plant trends and the plants that were stressed by last year's drought or died in the winter frost that will need replacing. Upbeat about 2023 trade with catering already looking strong, he says overstocks will need to sell through to get the supply chain moving. He says comparing with 2022 rather than 2019 is now the way forward.

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New Garden Centre Association chief executive Peter Burks backs an upbeat economic forecast from the recent GCA conference by economist Roger Martin-Fagg.

From a well-known garden retail family, Burks looks forward to the 2023 season as one that will see the sector return to normal.

The former Sanders, Wyevale and Blue Diamond manager speaks about how in recent weeks for the first time members are seeing an increase in trade compared to 12 months ago. Catering inflation has driven prices up and volumes are down, but if you can make more money out of fewer customers that's good for a while.

However, given good weather in 2023, customers will get used to any price rises and will come to the garden centre to shop as much as ever:

"I think from a garden centre point of view, from all my time in the industry, weather plays a far bigger role than any other outside influence.

"If you give everybody a chance to get used to the cost of energy and those sorts of things then I think people will still come to garden centres."

He also tells of his admiration for the nimbleness of independents and says the breaking up of Wyevale was good for small suppliers.

Conference growers heard feedback on best practice from GCA inspectors and Burks encourages garden retailers to see their presentations which are now.

Sustainability was a big focus of the conference and, Burks says, response has been "variable" but becoming more sustainable is "not optional". Peat is a good example of how garden centres are set to meet Government targets for ending bagged sales by 2024. Professor Dave Goulson argued garden centres should not sell chemical sprays and Burks says setting your garden up properly means they can be used minimally and only some safe pesticides should be stocked.a

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As Apprenticeship Week (6-12 February) approaches, Rachael Forsyth talks to two landscape maintenance apprentices who work for idverde in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Adam James is extra works team leader' and Mark Skinner, South park team leader as part of idverde's apprentice program. [Both have worked for idverde for a number of years but due to other commitments did not complete the apprenticeship at the start of employment with idverde.]

They talk about what inspired them to join the industry, the role family and volunteering have played in leading to a career in landscaping, the kind of work they do now and where they see their futures.

"About 2011 I got more interested in wildlife, caring for wildlife. That passion develops. Once that seed's sown there's no stopping it. It doesn't ask for permission!". Adam says.

With the skills crisis showing now signs of abating, they discuss barriers to entering the industry, including pay, battling the elements, but also the effects of the pandemic on many young people. 

But both Mark and Adam are vehement that young people with a passion for the outdoors, nature and plants should give the industry a chance. Marks says:

"My advice is start where you can get in and go for it - you won't look back".

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This week head of masterplanning Julian Tollast and David Hughes, estate landscape manager tell us about the transformation of Wembley Park which has given the area around the eponymous stadium an ''urban arboretum" and includes far more extensive and varied green space than people may realise.

One of London’s largest development schemes of recent times, the long-neglected neighbourhood received more than £2bn investment from Quintain in 2004 giving a new lease of life to the original landscape, first designed by Humphry Repton who laid out the original gardens for Wellers, the home of the Page family, in the late 18th century. 

One of the highlights of the development is the addition of an avenue of "champion trees of the world" which line the route from Wembley Park underground station to the stadium, developed with the assistance of Tony Kirkham, formerly of RBG Kew.

Tollast discusses plant selection and design principles which incorporate formal planting in some areas and "informal shaggy planting" in others. Hughes explains the maintenance regimes and some of the challenges of maintaining a landscape that has to withstand the footfall, litter and tree-climbing antics of tens of thousands of football and music fans on a regular basis. He also recounts his plans to introduce beehives on the high profile site.

They also recount the particular challenges they faced in the wake of the tumultuous European Cup Final of 2021, not to mention the stresses of drought on the landscape and trees and and challenges to maintaining and increasing biodiversity.

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