by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Tight budgets and the current economic climate might be causing families to holiday in the UK, or simply stay at home, but that doesn’t mean the summer holidays have to be dull and boring. This week families have the perfect opportunity to take part in free, fun and healthy events being held in celebration of “Love Parks Week” in parks across the country.
Parks and Open Spaces are the ideal place to visit whether you have children or not during your staycation, your holiday at home. In too many instances people just have not been making use of their local parks and too many have, for that very reason, fallen into disrepair.
The campaign takes place between Saturday 25 July and Sunday 2 August and is organized by parks charity “GreenSpace” to celebrate all that parks have to offer, with over 600 family-friendly events taking place in parks and green spaces.
From live music events and family fun days to art workshops and sports days, there will be plenty to keep the kids active and entertained!
Paul Bramhill, Chief Executive of GreenSpace, said: “Love Parks Week is a great opportunity to celebrate what parks and green space mean to communities. In the current financial climate parks are more important than ever – they are free to visit and provide opportunities to improve health, relax and unwind, enjoy nature, play and have fun.
“This year we want as many people as possible to show support for the campaign by attending an event and taking advantage of what these fantastic places have to offer.”
Parks and green spaces, as Paul Bramhill said, and as I have too, are more important than ever. They are free to visit and many provide great opportunities on a variety of levels.
Let me just ask a few things of you when you visit your parks and open and green spaces: Respect the bylaws, consider other visitors to the park, do not damage trees, plants or other wildlife and please take you rubbish home with you. Litter all around a park makes it unsightly.
Also, if you enjoy your local parks see whether there is a way for you to get involved in keeping them nice by, maybe, volunteering some of your time to look after them.
Over 600 events will be taking place across the UK, with an expected 400,000 people attending a Love Parks Week event.
“GreenSpace” is a registered charity which works to improve parks and green spaces by raising awareness, involving communities and creating skilled professionals. For more information please go to www.green-space.org.uk
For more information about specific events, organiser contact details can be found on the Love Parks Week What’s on guide at www.loveparksweek.org.uk.
© 2009
<>
Mayor of London urges people to enjoy Love Parks Week
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
This week Londoners are being urged to take advantage of the many free and family-friendly events taking place in parks and green spaces across the city as part of “Love Parks Week”.
Just in time for the summer holidays of the school children across the capital “Love Prks Week” has been launched and aims to encourage Londoners, and not just Londoners, for the events are not just concentrated in London, to make use of their local parks and open spaces.
Parks and Open Spaces are, in our current climate of economic uncertainty, more needed than ever in the last decades for recreation and staycation of people who cannot afford to take holidays elsewhere and also who, for reasons of the environmental footprint do not wish to do so.
There are over 100 events planned events in the capital, including the Waltham Forest Mela at Chestnut Fields, a community fair at Mile End Park and a teddy bear’s picnic at Hampstead Heath. Full event details can be found on the What’s on guide at www.loveparksweek.org.uk.
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: “I am delighted to offer my support to “Love Parks Week” and urge Londoners to take advantage of these wonderful events.
“London is fortunate to be a very green city and we need to preserve and protect our parks.
That is why I am providing funding to revamp eleven much-loved green spaces across the capital and why it is so important that a fantastic new park in the east of the city will be created as part of the legacy of the 2012 Games.”
Paul Bramhill, Chief Executive of “GreenSpace”, said: “I am delighted that parks in London will be playing host to so many Love Parks Week events this year. The campaign is a great opportunity to celebrate what parks and green space mean to families and communities.
“This year we want as many people as possible to show support for the campaign by attending an event and taking advantage of what these fantastic places have to offer, so it’s encouraging to see that so much is planned in London during the week.”
The campaign takes place between Saturday 25 July and Sunday 2 August and is organized by parks charity “GreenSpace” to celebrate all that parks have to offer, with over 600 family-friendly events taking place in parks and green spaces across the country.
Over 600 events will be taking place across the UK, with an expected 400,000 people
attending a Love Parks Week event.
“GreenSpace” is a registered charity which works to improve parks and green spaces by raising awareness, involving communities and creating skilled professionals. For more information please go to www.green-space.org.uk
So, everyone, let's hear it for our parks and open spaces and go and use them. But, please use them responsibly and take your rubbish home with you.
© 2009
<>
This week Londoners are being urged to take advantage of the many free and family-friendly events taking place in parks and green spaces across the city as part of “Love Parks Week”.
Just in time for the summer holidays of the school children across the capital “Love Prks Week” has been launched and aims to encourage Londoners, and not just Londoners, for the events are not just concentrated in London, to make use of their local parks and open spaces.
Parks and Open Spaces are, in our current climate of economic uncertainty, more needed than ever in the last decades for recreation and staycation of people who cannot afford to take holidays elsewhere and also who, for reasons of the environmental footprint do not wish to do so.
There are over 100 events planned events in the capital, including the Waltham Forest Mela at Chestnut Fields, a community fair at Mile End Park and a teddy bear’s picnic at Hampstead Heath. Full event details can be found on the What’s on guide at www.loveparksweek.org.uk.
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: “I am delighted to offer my support to “Love Parks Week” and urge Londoners to take advantage of these wonderful events.
“London is fortunate to be a very green city and we need to preserve and protect our parks.
That is why I am providing funding to revamp eleven much-loved green spaces across the capital and why it is so important that a fantastic new park in the east of the city will be created as part of the legacy of the 2012 Games.”
Paul Bramhill, Chief Executive of “GreenSpace”, said: “I am delighted that parks in London will be playing host to so many Love Parks Week events this year. The campaign is a great opportunity to celebrate what parks and green space mean to families and communities.
“This year we want as many people as possible to show support for the campaign by attending an event and taking advantage of what these fantastic places have to offer, so it’s encouraging to see that so much is planned in London during the week.”
The campaign takes place between Saturday 25 July and Sunday 2 August and is organized by parks charity “GreenSpace” to celebrate all that parks have to offer, with over 600 family-friendly events taking place in parks and green spaces across the country.
Over 600 events will be taking place across the UK, with an expected 400,000 people
attending a Love Parks Week event.
“GreenSpace” is a registered charity which works to improve parks and green spaces by raising awareness, involving communities and creating skilled professionals. For more information please go to www.green-space.org.uk
So, everyone, let's hear it for our parks and open spaces and go and use them. But, please use them responsibly and take your rubbish home with you.
© 2009
<>
Free fun events for families as Love Parks Week launches
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
(Saturday 25 July) The summer holidays are here and more than ever, families are looking for cost-effective ways to entertain the whole family on a budget. And this even more this year than in previous years.
Staycations are on the books for a lot of people and parks are a great way to spend some time of your staycation, your vacation at home.
Love Parks Week, organised by parks charity GreenSpace, kicked off on Saturday, July 25, and offers the perfect way to beat the kids’ boredom on a budget, with hundreds of family-friendly events taking place in parks and green spaces across the country.
With over 600 events ranging from live music events and family fun days to art workshops and sports days, there will be plenty to keep the kids active and entertained!
The campaign runs between Saturday 25 July and Sunday 2 August 2009 and celebrates all that parks have to offer, while calling for continued investment and support for these valuable community assets.
To find Love Parks Week events happening in your area visit www.loveparksweek.org.uk.
Paul Bramhill, Chief Executive of GreenSpace, said: “Love Parks Week is a great opportunity to celebrate what parks and green space mean to communities. In the current financial climate parks are more important than ever – they are free to visit and provide opportunities to improve health, relax and unwind, enjoy nature, play and have fun.
“This year we want as many people as possible to show support for the campaign by attending an event and taking advantage of what these fantastic places have to offer.”
Love Parks Week is an annual campaign, organized by parks charity “GreenSpace”. The campaign was founded in 2006 and has grown steadily. It is now established as a major event that is celebrated in parks across the country.
Over 600 events will be taking place across the UK, with an expected 400,000 people
attending a Love Parks Week event.
“GreenSpace” is a registered charity which works to improve parks and green spaces by raising awareness, involving communities and creating skilled professionals. For more information please go to www.green-space.org.uk
For more information about specific events, organizer contact details can be found on the Love Parks Week What’s on guide at www.loveparksweek.org.uk.
© 2009
<>
(Saturday 25 July) The summer holidays are here and more than ever, families are looking for cost-effective ways to entertain the whole family on a budget. And this even more this year than in previous years.
Staycations are on the books for a lot of people and parks are a great way to spend some time of your staycation, your vacation at home.
Love Parks Week, organised by parks charity GreenSpace, kicked off on Saturday, July 25, and offers the perfect way to beat the kids’ boredom on a budget, with hundreds of family-friendly events taking place in parks and green spaces across the country.
With over 600 events ranging from live music events and family fun days to art workshops and sports days, there will be plenty to keep the kids active and entertained!
The campaign runs between Saturday 25 July and Sunday 2 August 2009 and celebrates all that parks have to offer, while calling for continued investment and support for these valuable community assets.
To find Love Parks Week events happening in your area visit www.loveparksweek.org.uk.
Paul Bramhill, Chief Executive of GreenSpace, said: “Love Parks Week is a great opportunity to celebrate what parks and green space mean to communities. In the current financial climate parks are more important than ever – they are free to visit and provide opportunities to improve health, relax and unwind, enjoy nature, play and have fun.
“This year we want as many people as possible to show support for the campaign by attending an event and taking advantage of what these fantastic places have to offer.”
Love Parks Week is an annual campaign, organized by parks charity “GreenSpace”. The campaign was founded in 2006 and has grown steadily. It is now established as a major event that is celebrated in parks across the country.
Over 600 events will be taking place across the UK, with an expected 400,000 people
attending a Love Parks Week event.
“GreenSpace” is a registered charity which works to improve parks and green spaces by raising awareness, involving communities and creating skilled professionals. For more information please go to www.green-space.org.uk
For more information about specific events, organizer contact details can be found on the Love Parks Week What’s on guide at www.loveparksweek.org.uk.
© 2009
<>
JOIN IOG SALTEX ON TWITTER
IOG SALTEX exhibitors and visitors can now make comments on the exhibition and follow show progress every day via the Twitter social networking short messaging service.
Please join our conversation by posting your own “tweets” and giving us your comments on any industry developments. We hope to meet you at our “tweet up” at IOG SALTEX, September 8 – 10 at Windsor Racecourse!
Simply go online at www.twitter.com/HelenBeckett to join the IOG SALTEX Twitter community.
IOG SALTEX 2009 will be held on 8-10 September at Windsor Racecourse, Berks, and will embrace fine turf and sports surfaces, turf maintenance equipment, children’s outdoor play and safety surfacing, landscaping, contractors, commercial vehicles, outdoor leisure and facilities management, as well as software and security equipment. The show is attended by open space management professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers.
Organised by The Institute of Groundsmanship, the first IOG exhibition was staged in 1938, the forerunner to today’s IOG SALTEX Sports, Amenity & Landscape Trade Exhibition. Held annually at Windsor Racecourse, IOG SALTEX is the annual extravaganza for everyone who cares for and/or manages open spaces – including groundsmen, greenkeepers, contractors, local authority and leisure facility managers. The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is the leading membership organisation representing grounds managers, groundsmen, grounds maintenance managers, greenkeepers and all others involved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK. As well as maintaining the IOG Performance Quality Standards and providing a consultancy service for sports grounds, lawn maintenance and amenity horticulture, the IOG’s extensive Training and Education programme includes cricket, football, tennis, horseracing, bowls, artificial surfaces, turf science and many other specialist subjects. For more information visit www.iog.org
<>
Please join our conversation by posting your own “tweets” and giving us your comments on any industry developments. We hope to meet you at our “tweet up” at IOG SALTEX, September 8 – 10 at Windsor Racecourse!
Simply go online at www.twitter.com/HelenBeckett to join the IOG SALTEX Twitter community.
IOG SALTEX 2009 will be held on 8-10 September at Windsor Racecourse, Berks, and will embrace fine turf and sports surfaces, turf maintenance equipment, children’s outdoor play and safety surfacing, landscaping, contractors, commercial vehicles, outdoor leisure and facilities management, as well as software and security equipment. The show is attended by open space management professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers.
Organised by The Institute of Groundsmanship, the first IOG exhibition was staged in 1938, the forerunner to today’s IOG SALTEX Sports, Amenity & Landscape Trade Exhibition. Held annually at Windsor Racecourse, IOG SALTEX is the annual extravaganza for everyone who cares for and/or manages open spaces – including groundsmen, greenkeepers, contractors, local authority and leisure facility managers. The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is the leading membership organisation representing grounds managers, groundsmen, grounds maintenance managers, greenkeepers and all others involved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK. As well as maintaining the IOG Performance Quality Standards and providing a consultancy service for sports grounds, lawn maintenance and amenity horticulture, the IOG’s extensive Training and Education programme includes cricket, football, tennis, horseracing, bowls, artificial surfaces, turf science and many other specialist subjects. For more information visit www.iog.org
<>
Whatever has happened to Parkforce?
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
A couple of years ago amid great fanfare the Commission for Architecture and the Build Environment(CABE) launched Parkforce – a force for the good of the common, so to speak – to “improve the standing of parks and open spaces”. But what now? Where is Parkforce gone to?
While there are still publications, and very good ones at that, as regards to parks and open spaces, being put out by CABE no mention is made of Parkforce itself any longer, which was to have been a flagship thing.
Annual competitions were to be for “Park Keeper of the Year” ans such like but that only happened once and that appears to have been it.
The seminars that were being held appertaining to parks and open spaces were good and very informative but many of them also seem to have fallen by the wayside.
It is also a most unfortunate fact that is and when CABE has a booth at this or that event this never seems to be manned.
Once again, it would appear, a great opportunity to do something positive for and about Britain's parks and open spaces has been allowed to go to waste.
Most, if not indeed all, Quangos set up by the British government or those aided by it, are, so it would appear, all about gimmicks without substance and no more.
Many park staff who joined are proud to wear the Parkforce badge and to follow the pledge that they took but, alas, that what was supposed to stand behind and support it seems to have, sadly, gone.
If CABE has, more or less, given up on Parkforce maybe a relaunch is called for an d it should then be run by parks officers.
This suggestion is, at present, intended as some kind of food for thought but if Parkforce members are interested it might be good to take it further.
© 2009
<>
A couple of years ago amid great fanfare the Commission for Architecture and the Build Environment(CABE) launched Parkforce – a force for the good of the common, so to speak – to “improve the standing of parks and open spaces”. But what now? Where is Parkforce gone to?
While there are still publications, and very good ones at that, as regards to parks and open spaces, being put out by CABE no mention is made of Parkforce itself any longer, which was to have been a flagship thing.
Annual competitions were to be for “Park Keeper of the Year” ans such like but that only happened once and that appears to have been it.
The seminars that were being held appertaining to parks and open spaces were good and very informative but many of them also seem to have fallen by the wayside.
It is also a most unfortunate fact that is and when CABE has a booth at this or that event this never seems to be manned.
Once again, it would appear, a great opportunity to do something positive for and about Britain's parks and open spaces has been allowed to go to waste.
Most, if not indeed all, Quangos set up by the British government or those aided by it, are, so it would appear, all about gimmicks without substance and no more.
Many park staff who joined are proud to wear the Parkforce badge and to follow the pledge that they took but, alas, that what was supposed to stand behind and support it seems to have, sadly, gone.
If CABE has, more or less, given up on Parkforce maybe a relaunch is called for an d it should then be run by parks officers.
This suggestion is, at present, intended as some kind of food for thought but if Parkforce members are interested it might be good to take it further.
© 2009
<>
TREE SURGERY BEST PRACTICE COMES ALIVE AT IOG SALTEX’S ‘WORLD OF ARB’
The wide-ranging needs of arboriculturalists are being met at this year’s IOG SALTEX open space management show (Windsor, September 8-10) by a packed programme of ‘World of Arb’ live demonstrations and ‘meet the expert’ sessions, as well as dedicated seminar presentations and a showground packed with exhibitors displaying all the equipment needed for safe and effective tree surgery.
In addition to providing non-stop ‘meet the expert’ advice concerning, for example, climbing gear and procedures, arboricultural specialists the BTS Group, will also be staging a daily programme of exciting live demonstrations covering best-practice routines for:
Elsewhere in the show, arborists will also be able to view and discuss a wide range of appropriate equipment – from harnesses through to sky-high access platforms – while in The Grandstand, as part of the show’s free education programme, a trio of experts from the Arboricultural Association’s Education and Training Committee will be presenting focused sessions on:
Register NOW at www.iogsaltex.co.uk to receive your FREE entry badge and information about IOG SALTEX, or call the Ticket Hotline on 0845 272 8782 for FREE tickets.
IOG SALTEX 2009 will be held on 8-10 September at Windsor Racecourse, Berks, and will embrace fine turf and sports surfaces, turf maintenance equipment, children’s outdoor play and safety surfacing, landscaping, contractors, commercial vehicles, outdoor leisure and facilities management, as well as software and security equipment. The show is attended by open space management professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers.
Organised by The Institute of Groundsmanship, the first IOG exhibition was staged in 1938, the forerunner to today’s IOG SALTEX Sports, Amenity & Landscape Trade Exhibition. Held annually at Windsor Racecourse, IOG SALTEX is the annual extravaganza for everyone who cares for and/or manages open spaces – including groundsmen, greenkeepers, contractors, local authority and leisure facility managers. The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is the leading membership organisation representing grounds managers, groundsmen, grounds maintenance managers, greenkeepers and all others involved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK. As well as maintaining the IOG Performance Quality Standards and providing a consultancy service for sports grounds, lawn maintenance and amenity horticulture, the IOG’s extensive Training and Education programme includes cricket, football, tennis, horseracing, bowls, artificial surfaces, turf science and many other specialist subjects. For more information visit www.iog.org
<>
In addition to providing non-stop ‘meet the expert’ advice concerning, for example, climbing gear and procedures, arboricultural specialists the BTS Group, will also be staging a daily programme of exciting live demonstrations covering best-practice routines for:
- Access - climbed versus platform – highlighting health and safety issues as well as the efficacy of the alternative routines;
- Aerial rescue techniques; and
- Chainsaw use and maintenance.
Elsewhere in the show, arborists will also be able to view and discuss a wide range of appropriate equipment – from harnesses through to sky-high access platforms – while in The Grandstand, as part of the show’s free education programme, a trio of experts from the Arboricultural Association’s Education and Training Committee will be presenting focused sessions on:
- Tree inspections and record keeping – by Rhoderic Taylor – on Tuesday September 8 at 10.45 hrs;
- Tree protection – by Julie Sadler – on Wednesday September 9 at 13.30 hrs; and
- Tree pruning – by Jack Kenyon – on Thursday September 10 at 14.15 hrs..
Register NOW at www.iogsaltex.co.uk to receive your FREE entry badge and information about IOG SALTEX, or call the Ticket Hotline on 0845 272 8782 for FREE tickets.
IOG SALTEX 2009 will be held on 8-10 September at Windsor Racecourse, Berks, and will embrace fine turf and sports surfaces, turf maintenance equipment, children’s outdoor play and safety surfacing, landscaping, contractors, commercial vehicles, outdoor leisure and facilities management, as well as software and security equipment. The show is attended by open space management professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers.
Organised by The Institute of Groundsmanship, the first IOG exhibition was staged in 1938, the forerunner to today’s IOG SALTEX Sports, Amenity & Landscape Trade Exhibition. Held annually at Windsor Racecourse, IOG SALTEX is the annual extravaganza for everyone who cares for and/or manages open spaces – including groundsmen, greenkeepers, contractors, local authority and leisure facility managers. The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is the leading membership organisation representing grounds managers, groundsmen, grounds maintenance managers, greenkeepers and all others involved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK. As well as maintaining the IOG Performance Quality Standards and providing a consultancy service for sports grounds, lawn maintenance and amenity horticulture, the IOG’s extensive Training and Education programme includes cricket, football, tennis, horseracing, bowls, artificial surfaces, turf science and many other specialist subjects. For more information visit www.iog.org
<>
Using trees in public spaces
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
The environmental, economic and social benefits of trees are well known, I should think, and have also been well enough documented in many places.
Trees have an immense role to play in the built environment and we have been neglecting this for too long. If we look at the towns that were created by the likes of Rowntree and Cadbury they incorporated a great deal of trees in their design, because it was obvious to them that trees benefit people. The same was done during the slum clearances of, say, Bermondsey under the involvement of Dr. Salter. Why we ever nigh on went away from it beats me, and I should assume many others who are passionate about trees, in the urban and other environments.
The location of trees and and the benefits they bring, can be secured for future generations by influencing the planning, design, construction and management of our urban infrastructure and spaces.
The role of the planner, architect and urban designer is crucial in allowing trees to remain an essential component of pubic life and the life of our towns and cities. The numbers of trees planted, including within new developments, is much less relevant and is much less of an issue than the quality and scale of the trees planted.
As far as cities are concerned it is the larger landscape species that confer the greatest benefit to a city. This especially in terms of attractiveness, stature, creating a sense of place and, crucially, for casting deep shade and cooling our buildings, public squares and meeting places in future.
Such trees must be, as indicated, of a good quality and of that kind that already has attained a certain height and strength. On cannot simply go and plant forest nursery stock of the kind that is used in woodland and forest planting and expect them to grown and do something.
Trees, as any forester knows, take a long time to grow to any stature that will give shade and also small trees may not survive the rigors of town and city, and this includes vandalism.
I am sure that most of us who have any dealing with this subject know far too well that as soon as you have planted some young trees somewhere, whether in a park or open space or by the side of the road, that this is like a red rag to a bull fort the young hooligans and they go an try to inflic as much damage as they possibly can.
Large stature trees are not as easily affected by such actions as are small saplings and hence the recommendation for larger landscaping species of trees, ideally tub grown.
The management of such trees, as well as the trees in parks and other public open spaces in towns and cities must be approached in a new way too. It should, in my opinion, in the same way as in other European Union countries, be done by city forestry departments and if and when trees have to be felled for whatever reason or when trees fall in parks they should be fed into the “food chain” so to speak. That is to say that they should be marketed for the good of the parks and open spaces, whether this be for firewood or for furniture lumber.
Residential areas should enjoy tree canopy cover of at least 25 per cent to alleviate the impacts of climate change, with 15 per cent canopy cover in mixed-use or commercial areas.
This should mean more planting of trees in parks, open spaces, car park areas, etc.; avenues of trees again in residential areas where, in the not so distant past they had been removed for reasons of overshadowing people's homes and gardens. And this is certainly not before time.
In this context it would be nice to also goo back to the avenues of fruit trees that used to line the roads all across the counties and which were in fact harvested for the common good. Our ancestors were not as stupid as many of the modern folks might like to think. While they may not have had the modern technology we have today they knew what Nature had to offer and how to make use of Her gifts. Time we had a little trip back to the future, so to speak, and took some leaves out of the old ones' books.
© 2009
<>
The environmental, economic and social benefits of trees are well known, I should think, and have also been well enough documented in many places.
Trees have an immense role to play in the built environment and we have been neglecting this for too long. If we look at the towns that were created by the likes of Rowntree and Cadbury they incorporated a great deal of trees in their design, because it was obvious to them that trees benefit people. The same was done during the slum clearances of, say, Bermondsey under the involvement of Dr. Salter. Why we ever nigh on went away from it beats me, and I should assume many others who are passionate about trees, in the urban and other environments.
The location of trees and and the benefits they bring, can be secured for future generations by influencing the planning, design, construction and management of our urban infrastructure and spaces.
The role of the planner, architect and urban designer is crucial in allowing trees to remain an essential component of pubic life and the life of our towns and cities. The numbers of trees planted, including within new developments, is much less relevant and is much less of an issue than the quality and scale of the trees planted.
As far as cities are concerned it is the larger landscape species that confer the greatest benefit to a city. This especially in terms of attractiveness, stature, creating a sense of place and, crucially, for casting deep shade and cooling our buildings, public squares and meeting places in future.
Such trees must be, as indicated, of a good quality and of that kind that already has attained a certain height and strength. On cannot simply go and plant forest nursery stock of the kind that is used in woodland and forest planting and expect them to grown and do something.
Trees, as any forester knows, take a long time to grow to any stature that will give shade and also small trees may not survive the rigors of town and city, and this includes vandalism.
I am sure that most of us who have any dealing with this subject know far too well that as soon as you have planted some young trees somewhere, whether in a park or open space or by the side of the road, that this is like a red rag to a bull fort the young hooligans and they go an try to inflic as much damage as they possibly can.
Large stature trees are not as easily affected by such actions as are small saplings and hence the recommendation for larger landscaping species of trees, ideally tub grown.
The management of such trees, as well as the trees in parks and other public open spaces in towns and cities must be approached in a new way too. It should, in my opinion, in the same way as in other European Union countries, be done by city forestry departments and if and when trees have to be felled for whatever reason or when trees fall in parks they should be fed into the “food chain” so to speak. That is to say that they should be marketed for the good of the parks and open spaces, whether this be for firewood or for furniture lumber.
Residential areas should enjoy tree canopy cover of at least 25 per cent to alleviate the impacts of climate change, with 15 per cent canopy cover in mixed-use or commercial areas.
This should mean more planting of trees in parks, open spaces, car park areas, etc.; avenues of trees again in residential areas where, in the not so distant past they had been removed for reasons of overshadowing people's homes and gardens. And this is certainly not before time.
In this context it would be nice to also goo back to the avenues of fruit trees that used to line the roads all across the counties and which were in fact harvested for the common good. Our ancestors were not as stupid as many of the modern folks might like to think. While they may not have had the modern technology we have today they knew what Nature had to offer and how to make use of Her gifts. Time we had a little trip back to the future, so to speak, and took some leaves out of the old ones' books.
© 2009
<>
Park plays high-pitch tone to discourage vandals
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
A park in Tokyo, Japan, has started playing a high-pitched tone at night that only young people can hear to help drive away teenagers who keep vandalizing the toilets and other facilities.
"We were having trouble improving the situation and trying to decide what to do, when we found out about “The Mosquito” and decided to give it a try," said Haruyuki Masuda, an official in charge of parks in Tokyo's Adachi district.
"The Mosquito" is a device that emits a high-frequency tone that is unbearable to those who can hear it, Masuda said.
The local authorities decided to act after young people hanging out in the district's Kitashikahama Park inflicted damage amounting to around 700,000 yen ($7,400) there last year.
"We could not do anything about it from just patrolling," Masuda said.
People's ability to hear high frequencies falls as they age. The device produces a high-pitch tone of around 17 kilohertz, which teens can hear but older people cannot.
While such devices are used at some convenience stores in Japan also troubled by teens, Masuda said district officials were hesitant at first.
"We were a little worried about whether the local government should be using such a device to exclude certain people, even if these are young people that are causing problems," Masuda said.
"But we have been unable to resolve the issue and many people said we should try it," he said, adding that the device would be tested at the park from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. each night until March 2010.
Seeing how Parks in Britain (and I should think elsewhere) are plagued by teenage and young adult vandals during the night (and not just at night) The Mosquito might also be something that should be considered in such places.
Too many local authorities, however, have the same thoughts as the Tokyo Park's Deparment had as first, as state by Mr. Masuda when he said that they were at first a little worried about using such a device to exclude certain people.
They seem to look over their shoulders all the time as to whether they might not infringe on the human rights of such hoodlums that are out to do but wanton destruction and spoil the enjoyment of parks and open spaces for others. Those that do that, in fact, infringe on the human rights of others and even under the European laws forfeit their human rights in this instance, so to speak.
The European Human Rights Act does have some get out clauses for law enforcement but it would appear that in Britain no one is willing to use those in fear of upsetting this or that do-gooder. It is time we considered the law-abiding people before the hoodlums, and that also applies to the judiciary.
© 2009
<>
A park in Tokyo, Japan, has started playing a high-pitched tone at night that only young people can hear to help drive away teenagers who keep vandalizing the toilets and other facilities.
"We were having trouble improving the situation and trying to decide what to do, when we found out about “The Mosquito” and decided to give it a try," said Haruyuki Masuda, an official in charge of parks in Tokyo's Adachi district.
"The Mosquito" is a device that emits a high-frequency tone that is unbearable to those who can hear it, Masuda said.
The local authorities decided to act after young people hanging out in the district's Kitashikahama Park inflicted damage amounting to around 700,000 yen ($7,400) there last year.
"We could not do anything about it from just patrolling," Masuda said.
People's ability to hear high frequencies falls as they age. The device produces a high-pitch tone of around 17 kilohertz, which teens can hear but older people cannot.
While such devices are used at some convenience stores in Japan also troubled by teens, Masuda said district officials were hesitant at first.
"We were a little worried about whether the local government should be using such a device to exclude certain people, even if these are young people that are causing problems," Masuda said.
"But we have been unable to resolve the issue and many people said we should try it," he said, adding that the device would be tested at the park from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. each night until March 2010.
Seeing how Parks in Britain (and I should think elsewhere) are plagued by teenage and young adult vandals during the night (and not just at night) The Mosquito might also be something that should be considered in such places.
Too many local authorities, however, have the same thoughts as the Tokyo Park's Deparment had as first, as state by Mr. Masuda when he said that they were at first a little worried about using such a device to exclude certain people.
They seem to look over their shoulders all the time as to whether they might not infringe on the human rights of such hoodlums that are out to do but wanton destruction and spoil the enjoyment of parks and open spaces for others. Those that do that, in fact, infringe on the human rights of others and even under the European laws forfeit their human rights in this instance, so to speak.
The European Human Rights Act does have some get out clauses for law enforcement but it would appear that in Britain no one is willing to use those in fear of upsetting this or that do-gooder. It is time we considered the law-abiding people before the hoodlums, and that also applies to the judiciary.
© 2009
<>
IOG SALTEX BLOSSOMS WITH LAUNCH OF NURSERY STOCK AREA
In tune with meeting the needs of landscapers and open space professionals, a new Nursery Stock area at this year’s IOG SALTEX show (Windsor racecourse, September 8-10) will enable visitors to browse a vast selection of plants and trees.
Elveden Christmas Trees is just one of the exhibitors in the Nursery Stock area. The company specialises in supplying UKWAS-certified display spruce from 18 to 80 feet high. Able to distribute nationwide, Elveden also offers associated services such as installation, lighting, removal and recycling. Also, site-specific risk assessments are compiled prior to any installation.
Palmstead Nurseries will again be offering its fast off-the-peg plant service using its own transport fleet. It has over one million container capacity and over 200,000 field grown trees available.
Also showing is Gabellini, Rochfords - supplier of hardy nursery stock - Tendercare Nurseries and the Institute of Horticulture. In addition, Practicality Brown will also be on the showground.
Register NOW at www.iogsaltex.co.uk to receive your FREE entry badge and information about IOG SALTEX, or call the Ticket Hotline on 0845 272 8782 for FREE tickets.
IOG SALTEX 2009 will be held on 8-10 September at Windsor Racecourse, Berks, and will embrace fine turf and sports surfaces, turf maintenance equipment, children’s outdoor play and safety surfacing, landscaping, contractors, commercial vehicles, outdoor leisure and facilities management, as well as software and security equipment. The show is attended by open space management professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers.
Organised by The Institute of Groundsmanship, the first IOG exhibition was staged in 1938, the forerunner to today’s IOG SALTEX Sports, Amenity & Landscape Trade Exhibition. Held annually at Windsor Racecourse, IOG SALTEX is the annual extravaganza for everyone who cares for and/or manages open spaces – including groundsmen, greenkeepers, contractors, local authority and leisure facility managers. The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is the leading membership organisation representing grounds managers, groundsmen, grounds maintenance managers, greenkeepers and all others involved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK. As well as maintaining the IOG Performance Quality Standards and providing a consultancy service for sports grounds, lawn maintenance and amenity horticulture, the IOG’s extensive Training and Education programme includes cricket, football, tennis, horseracing, bowls, artificial surfaces, turf science and many other specialist subjects. For more information visit www.iog.org
<>
Elveden Christmas Trees is just one of the exhibitors in the Nursery Stock area. The company specialises in supplying UKWAS-certified display spruce from 18 to 80 feet high. Able to distribute nationwide, Elveden also offers associated services such as installation, lighting, removal and recycling. Also, site-specific risk assessments are compiled prior to any installation.
Palmstead Nurseries will again be offering its fast off-the-peg plant service using its own transport fleet. It has over one million container capacity and over 200,000 field grown trees available.
Also showing is Gabellini, Rochfords - supplier of hardy nursery stock - Tendercare Nurseries and the Institute of Horticulture. In addition, Practicality Brown will also be on the showground.
Register NOW at www.iogsaltex.co.uk to receive your FREE entry badge and information about IOG SALTEX, or call the Ticket Hotline on 0845 272 8782 for FREE tickets.
IOG SALTEX 2009 will be held on 8-10 September at Windsor Racecourse, Berks, and will embrace fine turf and sports surfaces, turf maintenance equipment, children’s outdoor play and safety surfacing, landscaping, contractors, commercial vehicles, outdoor leisure and facilities management, as well as software and security equipment. The show is attended by open space management professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers.
Organised by The Institute of Groundsmanship, the first IOG exhibition was staged in 1938, the forerunner to today’s IOG SALTEX Sports, Amenity & Landscape Trade Exhibition. Held annually at Windsor Racecourse, IOG SALTEX is the annual extravaganza for everyone who cares for and/or manages open spaces – including groundsmen, greenkeepers, contractors, local authority and leisure facility managers. The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is the leading membership organisation representing grounds managers, groundsmen, grounds maintenance managers, greenkeepers and all others involved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK. As well as maintaining the IOG Performance Quality Standards and providing a consultancy service for sports grounds, lawn maintenance and amenity horticulture, the IOG’s extensive Training and Education programme includes cricket, football, tennis, horseracing, bowls, artificial surfaces, turf science and many other specialist subjects. For more information visit www.iog.org
<>
OPEN SPACE exhibition experts work together to gain the EDGE for their visitors and exhibitors
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Four of Europe’s largest organizers of open space management exhibitions have joined together in a strategic partnership to share best practice and further improve the experiences of the 63,000 or so visitors and 1,000 exhibitors who attend their shows each year.
Expo Demo Green Europe (EDGE) has been jointly created by Fedagrim of Belgium, who are the organizers of Demo Groen/Demo Vert; the Institute of Groundsmanship of Great Britain (IOG), the organizers of IOG SALTEX; SALC of The Netherlands , the organizers of Demo-Dagen and Salonvert of France, who are the organizers of Salonvert to:
In addition, EDGE will also: establish a Best Innovation Award for products and equipment displayed across the four shows; encourage, co-ordinate and promote exhibitor presence at each event and consider the organization of a pan-European education event that will address issues common across the industry.
As Fedagrim’s Michel Christiaens began the inaugural two-year Presidency of EDGE – with Salonvert’s Frédéric Bondoux as vice president - he commented: “As exhibition organizers, the EDGE partners are constantly looking to add value to the time spent at our events by both visitors and exhibitors, and it is clear that everyone will benefit through such a collaboratory partnership where Europe’s leading open space exhibition organizers share their extensive knowledge bases, skill sets and vast expertise.”
He also added that while four partners have initially collaborated, EDGE is not necessarily an exclusive organization.
From this statement it should mean that others can join too in order to make it a bigger and better organization still.
Commenting on the development, Chief Executive of the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG), Geoff Webb, said: “The IOG welcomes this new partnership and as well as being able to share on experiences and approaches, a more co-ordinated approach from the organizers of these events can only benefit exhibitors and visitors alike.
“We already have a delegation from France visiting this IOG SALTEX 2009, which will add value to this year’s show building on our international audience.”
All four shows feature a vast range of products and services – for example, from grounds care machinery, commercial vehicles, landscaping equipment and materials, trees, plants and turf through to safety surfaces, play equipment, stadium and sports ground equipment, as well as forestry and arboricultural, recycling and waste management.
© 2009
<>
Four of Europe’s largest organizers of open space management exhibitions have joined together in a strategic partnership to share best practice and further improve the experiences of the 63,000 or so visitors and 1,000 exhibitors who attend their shows each year.
Expo Demo Green Europe (EDGE) has been jointly created by Fedagrim of Belgium, who are the organizers of Demo Groen/Demo Vert; the Institute of Groundsmanship of Great Britain (IOG), the organizers of IOG SALTEX; SALC of The Netherlands , the organizers of Demo-Dagen and Salonvert of France, who are the organizers of Salonvert to:
- Maintain the high standards of these leading events;
- Establish a pan-European partnership that will develop an increased profile for exhibitors across all four shows; and
- Share best practice of event planning and management.
In addition, EDGE will also: establish a Best Innovation Award for products and equipment displayed across the four shows; encourage, co-ordinate and promote exhibitor presence at each event and consider the organization of a pan-European education event that will address issues common across the industry.
As Fedagrim’s Michel Christiaens began the inaugural two-year Presidency of EDGE – with Salonvert’s Frédéric Bondoux as vice president - he commented: “As exhibition organizers, the EDGE partners are constantly looking to add value to the time spent at our events by both visitors and exhibitors, and it is clear that everyone will benefit through such a collaboratory partnership where Europe’s leading open space exhibition organizers share their extensive knowledge bases, skill sets and vast expertise.”
He also added that while four partners have initially collaborated, EDGE is not necessarily an exclusive organization.
From this statement it should mean that others can join too in order to make it a bigger and better organization still.
Commenting on the development, Chief Executive of the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG), Geoff Webb, said: “The IOG welcomes this new partnership and as well as being able to share on experiences and approaches, a more co-ordinated approach from the organizers of these events can only benefit exhibitors and visitors alike.
“We already have a delegation from France visiting this IOG SALTEX 2009, which will add value to this year’s show building on our international audience.”
All four shows feature a vast range of products and services – for example, from grounds care machinery, commercial vehicles, landscaping equipment and materials, trees, plants and turf through to safety surfaces, play equipment, stadium and sports ground equipment, as well as forestry and arboricultural, recycling and waste management.
© 2009
<>
Can garlic cure bleeding canker?
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
English Heritage is testing a potential cure for ‘bleeding canker’, a fatal disease that strikes horse chestnut trees (Aesculus hippocastanum) and for which, so far, there is no known cure.
The treatment, which has already been tested in Holland, involves allicin, an extract of garlic that is know for its antibacterial properties. The chemical spreads throughout the tree, and gives off a strong garlic smell which has the added bonus of repelling the horse chestnut leaf-mining moth.
This could mean that, in using allicin, in other words garlic “acid”, two birds might be killed with one stone, so to speak.
A treatment is urgently needed; the Forestry Commission estimates that up to 3,000 horse chestnuts with bleeding canker have had to be felled for public safety reasons.
In pubic parks, many who have been known for their magnificent horse chestnuts, this is very much an issue and alone in one park known to me many of them have had to be felled in the last year simply for the reason that they were beginning to pose a hazard as to falling branches and such.
© 2009
<>
English Heritage is testing a potential cure for ‘bleeding canker’, a fatal disease that strikes horse chestnut trees (Aesculus hippocastanum) and for which, so far, there is no known cure.
The treatment, which has already been tested in Holland, involves allicin, an extract of garlic that is know for its antibacterial properties. The chemical spreads throughout the tree, and gives off a strong garlic smell which has the added bonus of repelling the horse chestnut leaf-mining moth.
This could mean that, in using allicin, in other words garlic “acid”, two birds might be killed with one stone, so to speak.
A treatment is urgently needed; the Forestry Commission estimates that up to 3,000 horse chestnuts with bleeding canker have had to be felled for public safety reasons.
In pubic parks, many who have been known for their magnificent horse chestnuts, this is very much an issue and alone in one park known to me many of them have had to be felled in the last year simply for the reason that they were beginning to pose a hazard as to falling branches and such.
© 2009
<>
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
