Creating Landscape: a round-up of recent activity

Creating Landscapes is starting to warm up with a genuine buzz as more exhibitors commit to the show.

Last week we received confirmation from Fuel Card Solution (FCS) that they'll be there, not only supporting the event but to also help hard pressed landscape and gardening businesses save money on their business fuel expenses. Ria and a colleague will be on the FCS stand to talk through the benefits of paying for their fuel through a card account.

Wettone Matthews are a firm of chartered accountants based in Alton, Hampshire. I know Tim personally as his firm looked after our accountancy work for many years before I sold my company in 2004. We all know that business is as challenging as it's ever going to get at the moment and I'm confident we have the right team of people on-board to help landscapers and gardeners with tax and business advice. This week has started with a flurry too with confirmation of four more brands attending.

I've had many chats over the last couple of years with Sam at LandPRO about landscape estimating and Spon's landscape price guide (which Sam compiles). Sam's a fan of LJN so I was delighted when he said he'd like to support the event and exhibit his LibeRATE price consultancy; he may even give a talk.

Les Malin is Etesia's UK general Manager and Les conformed a while back that Etesia will be exhibiting a range of mowing equipment and I pleased to say that Les also confirmed this week that they will also be bringing the Pellenc range of Lithium-powered heavt duty contracting equipment too. Etesia UK are in the first year as distributors for the Pellenc range and now have over 30 dealers. The National Trust are using Pellenc because of the environmental benefits. Les tells me that they demonstrated the Pellenc equipment at the recent LJN open day and I understand the concept of using battery-power instead of a petrol engine was well received. Landscape maintenance members might be interested to note that they'll be bringing Airion blowers, 880 m3 of air, and only 2.5kg in weight and as quite as a mouse apparently.

Tamsin and Adrian Slatter are coming along with Vectorworks Training. Vectorworks is one of the most popular garden design software packages for industry professionals and Adrian told me earlier this week that they are phenomenally busy keeping up with demand for their training services.

Wild flowers are becoming an ever popular and important theme of garden designs and will feature heavily at the show. Wild Flower Turf are bringing along their unique soil-less wild flower turf and James will also be giving a talk on wild flower meadows. I think you'll agree that we're achieving great diversity with exhibitors so there'll be something of interest for everyone at the show. We'll be adding more information in the comings days and expect to see some new names appearing soon but before I sign off I didn't want to let the opportunity to pass without mentioning the companies who've been signed up for a little while. We'll also be writing about these companies in the coming days and weeks but in the meantime, here's a reminder of who they are. Seminars Tree for Cities with Dave Farebrother is confirmed but we've got a good selection of others; again, something for everyone. Possible talks are: Wild flower, green roofs, landscape estimating, garden design software. Walking seminars through the Capel Manor gardens on landscape construction and garden design as well as a discussion on the future of landscaping in the UK. All of the above to be finalised. Confirmed Exhibitors