About the Landscape Juice Network

Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.

LJN's professional business forum is unrivalled and open to anyone within within the UK landscape industry

LJN's Business Objectives Group (BOG) is for any Pro serious about building their business.

For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.

PRO

The Future of Landscape Juice

Hello. My name is Fleur Voice.

Very few of you would’ve heard of me but you would’ve heard of my Dad, Phil Voice, who founded Landscape Juice Network in 2008. In Febuary 2016, Dad was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent radiotherapy followed by surgery and the instillation of a stoma. A few months later, after recovering from surgery and having undergone a course of chemo, we believed we were making positive progress. However, we were then told that the cancer had spread to the liver. Despite various chemo protocols, the tumours then spread to his lungs. We continued with chemotherapy, but, over the last few weeks, Dad’s condition has rapidly deteriorated.

When he realised that his cancer was getting worse, his ultimate focus became to attend my graduation, which he successfully achieved on Thursday 18th July. But, by the end of the few days we spent in Manchester, he started to lose mobility in his legs. By the time we got home on the Sunday, he could no longer walk. At first, we thought it was a trapped nerve from a previous injury when he was younger, but tests revealed a tumour compressing his spinal cord which was prohibiting his movement. After speaking to the doctors, we were advised that surgery was not an option as there would only be a 50% chance of survival solely of the operation, and the tumour would eventually return anyway. He is now at home resting and is being provided with extremely thorough care from the “Hospital at Home” service here in France.

As a side effect of his treatment, he progressively developed Peripheral Neuropathy which rendered him unable to write and type, and frustratingly for him, prevented him from producing content for LJN. It has been distressing to witness Dad’s inability to passionately execute projects because of something he previously took for granted such as sitting and typing a blog post. We personally witnessed the thousands of hours he put into helping other people and writing useful information for others, and he is now distressed he is unable to persist in these activities. Even as we write this, it brings a tear to his eye when he talks about not being able to contribute in the future.

 

What does this mean for Landscape Juice?

My brother, Henry, and I as well as LouiseGary and Craig have decided to carry on Dad’s legacy by taking over both the management of the site as well as reinitiate topical content with his help and advice. We aim to abide by the ethos Dad had in mind when he came up with the idea of creating a platform for the individuals of the horticultural industry, and to listen to your needs and ideas about how LJN should develop in the future.

Without naming people directly, there have been certain individuals who have become very good friends, mentors and advisors throughout the development of Landscape Juice, who have equally shared Dad’s vision in providing a space that enables landscape and horticultural practitioners to develop their businesses. But not only that, they have provided a genuine community where everybody is respected and included. Already over the last four weeks, we have had a series of business development meetings to facilitate the strategy of maintaining Landscape Juice for many years to come. 

 
 
3476193674?profile=RESIZE_710x
 

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • So sorry to hear this. Phil is a really nice guy.

    Our thoughts are with you all.

  • PRO

    I feel for you, my wife almost mirrors Phil's journey through his cancer and we have been told this week that it has again come back in her liver, adrenal gland and a cluster on her spine and is now incurable and terminal. She is not as bad as your dad but will be in a short space of time.

    Your dad is top bloke I think we all wish him the best and hope he achieves any goals he has set him self with all your help. I'm sure you will all keep this site going as he would want to and in the same vein as he started.

    • Dave I am so sorry to hear about the prognosis for your wife. I hope she is comfortable and with you.

  • PRO

    Thank you for everything Phil

  • PRO

    I wish Phil all the best & I think there will be a lot of people out there including myself that will miss his mentoring support.Thanks, Phil

    Time to spend time together and enjoy what time you guys have left.

     

  • Very sorry to hear this Fleur. My thoughts are with your dad and his family.

  • PRO

    Sorry to hear the sad news ... 

    you have been an insiration to many of us over the years helping us with advice and ideas on how to improve our business

    Thanks Phil and my thoughts are with you and your family .... 

     

  • PRO

    I'm not sure I'd have ever got my business started if it wasn't for this forum and Phil's efforts. Thinking of you all at such a difficult time. 

  • Sorry to hear this. Pass on my best wishes. Phil has helped many,many people on here in 14? years.  A big thankyou to him and wish him all the best in everything. x

     

  • How sad, to read this.

    All the best to your family in these hard times.

This reply was deleted.

LJN Sponsor

Advertising

PRO Supplier

Working with an electric loader is now more efficient than ever – even in extremely cold conditions. Avant Tecno presents the renewed e series and the third generation of fully electric loaders, whose unique battery technology further improves…

Read more…