Surveying the future of garden design
14/02/2007
Ground Force and Garden Design programmes might have largely disappeared from our television screens but as a nation of gardeners, many of us still dream of having an English Country Garden…or an Italianate Pergola, or a stunning water feature.
Ashbourne based garden design and landscapers, Garden Outlines, have turned to new technology and construction skills to help their business blossom.
Using a grant from the East Midlands New Technology Initiative (NTI) they invested in a large scale printer and leading edge design software to help give a more professional service to their clients.
But, it was the course in Construction Skills at The University of Derby, which was the unexpected ingredient in their success. New surveying skills have opened new market opportunities.
Garden Outlines is run by Mark Spencer and David Spencer (unrelated). Mark explained: “Originally we approached the NTI because we wanted to have the ability to give our customers high quality printed designs, which could be easily altered if desired, compared with the traditional pen drawn designs which would have to be replicated at great expense and time.
“But the course showed how much we could improve even further by computing the implications of scale and slope. We now have a clearer view of future plans. By further investment in more sophisticated equipment and training we will be able to compete for larger projects, even local authority contracts.”
Garden Outlines will design and install garden features from simple fencing up to whole gardens costing tens of thousands of pounds.
Mark added: “We tend to get asked to do the more complex projects which home owners would not tackle on their own. It is therefore, even more important that we have the right equipment to give the best service.”
East Midlands NTI is an initiative backed by leading universities and colleges, to help small businesses invest in state of the art technology. It is funded by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda), Higher Education Funding Council for England and Learning and Skills Council (LSC).
Businesses can apply for match funded grants of up to £10,000 to invest in capital equipment and enrol staff on NTI approved courses to gain advanced technology skills.
Mark added: “The NTI was good from start to finish. They were helpful and offered good advice. I am hoping to go back to them again in the future for further help and support.”
http://www.eastmidlandsnti.co.uk/SuccessStories/GardenOutlines.htm
Chelsea 2006
We have been commissioned by Harrod Horticultural again to help build their trade stand. We have designed a planting scheme for their stand to help display their range of plant support products. All the planning is coming to a head and we will be setting off to London week commencing 15th May to build the stand.
The build up was a great success and here are some images from the show.
Chelsea 2005 In 2005 Garden Outlines were commissioned to design and build a trade stand based on a traditional kitchen garden for the mail order company Harrod Horticultural. The stand was built by our team, with the 10m x 5.5m plot turned into a mini kitchen garden to display all Harrod products. The site will include fruit trees supplied by Reads Nursery (Suffolk) and a range of organic vegetables grown and supplied by Ryton Organic Garden. We have also used two bay trees supplied by our local nursery the Mercaston Tree Company.
The design and the team checking final plans.(L - R Mark Spencer, David Spencer & Andrew Boam)
" This is an excellent opportunity for Garden Outlines to be involved in the best flower show in the world", comments Mark Spencer (Director). " I have been involved with Chelsea for several years but to be building a garden at the show is very rewarding". David Spencer (Director) comments " The planing and time that goes in to the stand has caused some sleepless nights but i can't wait to see the finished design".
Garden Outlines gained the opportunity to build the stand at Chelsea through close links with Harrod Horticultural, who have also commissioned Garden Outlines to design a 21m x 17m Victorian Kitchen Garden located in Norfolk, which will be used by Harrod Horticultural for product testing and photography.
We are very pleased to announce that the design received an award from the RHS Judges for "outstanding presentation of the stand." Above Mark with the award and the finished design.
We are delighted to have, an award winning garden design, for our first Chelsea Garden.
Derby Show 2005
The 126th Derby County Show was a very enjoyable show for us and we would like to thank all our customers for coming along to see us. It was also great to meet so many potential new clients.
David & Mark hoping to make use of the BBQ.
We received great feedback on some of the products we brought along to the show and we will be able to include these in many of our designs.
The response to our FREE DESIGN COMPETITION was incredible, the competition closes at the end of August after our last show when we will notify the lucky winner. Please tell your friends and they can enter on line by filling in the enquiry form and marking it "Garden Design Competition".
We received many great enquiries for garden design projects and anyone who has logged an enquiry with us for the products on display or our design services will be contacted shortly.
Below is a view from the show.
Show stand showing Sail Shade, patio furniture and canvas prints.
