With BNG, developers are legally obliged to address the environmental impact of their actions so that biodiversity across a site is left in better condition than when it was found. It also forced grounds maintenance specialists like Grounds Care Group to alter their landscape maintenance programmes by adopting eco-friendly approaches that deliver measurable results.

But what is biodiversity net gain, and what does it mean? This guide will explore new BNG regulations and focus on how to achieve biodiversity net gain.

What Does Biodiversity Mean?

Biodiversity refers to all living things in one natural habitat including humans, animals, plants, and bacteria. However, there is a major risk of these important ecosystems being damaged or affected by developers without the right rules and restrictions in place.

As more and more industries place environmental protection at the top of their agenda, developers now have a legal obligation to clearly demonstrate the steps they have taken to protect and enhance the biodiversity of key habitats during the process of their work. As a legal mandate, the law applies to both planned and sought-after developments.

What is Biodiversity Net Gain?

Biodiversity Net Gain describes the process of increasing the biodiversity value of a development site. It can be achieved both onsite and offsite and even as development work continues.

BNG was optional until the UK Government passed the Environment Act in 2021 forcing all new developments that apply for planning permission to improve the biodiversity of the site by a minimum of 10%. At present, BNG only applies to England with other UK countries expected to follow at some point.

The ‘net gain’ aspect means the development site must enhance its biodiversity value so that natural habitats can flourish, rather than decrease it by negatively impacting the local environment. BNG has become an important strategy for aligning development with conservation goals by ensuring natural habitats are left in a better state after development than before it. In England, it is now mandatory for developers to demonstrate BNG in working practice. At the time of writing, financial penalties and fees for developers who ignore BNG or fall short of set targets were before parliament for discussion.

Why is Biodiversity Net Gain Important?

The protection of key natural habitats during development and maintenance is the driving force behind BNG. By making BMG mandatory for developers, the government will be able to monitor natural habitats and ensure they are nurtured and enhanced for future generations.

Biodiversity Net Gain is important for several reasons including:

1. Quantifiable Measurement

Measuring the biodiversity of a site before and after development will provide vital data that can quantify the biodiversity value of the specific habitat. This is achieved by using standardised assessment tools and metrics, which we’ll discuss later. However, BNG is not about encouraging developers to avoid damaging the biodiversity of a habitat, but more to achieve an overall increase in biodiversity going forward.

2. Offset Losses

Where groundwork leads to a reduction in biodiversity, BNG requires developers to compensate for the loss and reverse the decline of a natural habitat that will result in net gain. Planting native vegetation or creating new habitats are some of the actions that developers can take to mitigate their environmental impact.

3. Legal Compliance

Biodiversity Net Gain is being increasingly incorporated into environmental policies and government regulations. It is already a legal requirement for developers and grounds maintenance specialists in England where you’re required to present a robust BNG strategy to gain planning approval or obtain permits.

4. Habitat Restoration

Developers and grounds maintenance specialists could be required to restore habitats and natural environments under Biodiversity Net Gain rules. This may involve creating new habitats rich with biodiversity or restoring ecosystems that have perished over time. Either way, BNG must improve the ecological value of any site ready for development or already under development.

How Do You Measure Biodiversity Net Gain?

By law, developers and landowners must deliver a BNG of 10% or more. To monitor this, biodiversity is measured in standardised biodiversity units of a specific site according to size, quality, location, and type.

Bad development can lead to the loss of biodiversity units, though units can also be generated through environmental work to create and improve habitats.

The official metric used by the UK Government to measure biodiversity is:

• The number of units contained in a habitat before development starts.
• The number of units needed to replace lost or damaged habitats and to achieve a minimum of 10% BNG.

Developers and landowners are required to use the government’s statutory biodiversity metric tool when calculating the number of biodiversity units present in an existing habitat and to work out any necessary habitat enhancements that may be required.

Who is Responsible for Delivering Biodiversity Net Gain?

The land manager holds legal responsibility for creating, protecting, and enhancing natural habitats set aside for development. They are also responsible for managing that habitat for at least 30 years to achieve their BNG target.

A land manager is someone who makes significant on-site gains or sells off-site gains on a site they own. Where a developer buys off-site units, they are effectively paying a land manager to tend the land for 30 years to meet their BNG commitment.

Who Will Be Affected by Biodiversity Net Gain Rules?

The following groups must understand BNG rules to avoid potential fines and penalties for ignoring their legal obligations. They include:

• Large-scale developments such as shopping centres, schools, offices, and public buildings.
• Small development sites from April 2024.
• Infrastructure projects of national importance from November 2025 such as railway tunnels, bridges, and sporting arenas.
• Land managers looking to sell an area of land for development.
• Local planning authorities (LPA).

Consulting with Local Planning Authorities is recommended as early as possible in the planning process to allow developers time to increase biodiversity by at least 10%. However, not all development sites will be appropriately located to implement this increase. In this scenario, developers may need to alter their plans or create offsite mitigation schemes in a bid to secure planning permission.

As regulations do not specify that BNG must occur on the same geographical site set for development, it gives both developers and landowners more flexibility around the new legislation.

Who is Exempt from Biodiversity Net Gain Rules?

Not all developments or land managers have to abide by BNG rules. Some developments are exempt from the regulations. These include small sites such as residential developments of between 1 and 9 dwellings or where the site area is less than 0-5 hectares, developments below the threshold where work impacts less than 25 square metres of habitat or 5 metres of hedgerow, or householders seeking planning permission for small projects like home extensions or conservatories.

If you’re unsure whether you’re development is exempt from mandatory BNG regulations, there is an online UK Government guide that lists all exempt cases.

How do you Achieve Biodiversity Net Gain?

Through careful site selection and empathetic planning, developers can reduce any negative impact on biodiversity or avoid it completely. Rather, developers and landowners can deliver a minimum of 10% BNG in line with the government’s statutory biodiversity metric.

Put simply, developers and landowners can meet their 10% BNG targets in 3 ways:

• By restoring, protecting, and improving biodiversity on-site. This includes all land that falls within the red line boundary of the development site.
• A mixture of on-site and off-site BNG solutions for cases where developers can only achieve part of their BNG obligations on-site. Here, developers can introduce BNG on their own land outside the development site or buy off-side biodiversity units elsewhere.
• Where BNG cannot be achieved on-site or off-site, developers must buy statutory biodiversity credits from the government who will use the revenue to create diverse natural habitats in other appropriate locations.

What is an Example of Biodiversity Net Gain in Practice?

If a developer cuts down trees on a site, they must mitigate its impact on the natural environment in addition to delivering 10% BNG.

This would mean conducting a habitat survey before development starts and using the statutory biodiversity metric. This will provide viable options they could use to make up for the tree loss and other actions they could take to achieve 10% BNG.

If, however, 10% BNG cannot be achieved on-site, they must buy off-side units. If they still fall short of their legal obligations, they’ll have to purchase statutory biodiversity credits from the government.

Unsure How to Achieve Biodiversity Net Gain? Need Help?

At Grounds Care Group, we have expert knowledge of biodiversity net gain best practices to ensure your development plans meet government regulations. From landscape maintenance to tree surgery to grounds technology, contact Grounds Care Group today.

The post Biodiversity Net Gain – What it is and How to Achieve it appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

By planting trees, companies can actively offset emissions and engage with local communities, as well as improving the local diversity of areas nearby. And, by planting tree varieties, we can increase the native wildlife of Britain and reduce groundwater in areas that are unwooded.

The Benefits of Tree Planting

1. Actively Fights Climate Change

Trees take out carbon dioxide from the air and turn it into oxygen. The Amazon rainforest has been called the “lungs of the earth” before, and it’s true. The oxygen that trees produce helps to create air quality that keeps humans and animals breathing properly.

The Woodland Trust estimates that increasing the woodland cover to at least 19% of the UK will help to meet the carbon net zero targets by 2050, as set by the UK government.

By planting in scientifically mapped areas that don’t encroach on agricultural land or land designated for native planting already, such as DEFRA’s nectar flower mix scheme, we could increase forest density by 33.82% (this figure captures the regional mean taken from Crowther Lab).

These changes would exceed targets, surpassing what the Woodland Trust estimates (set at 19%) the UK would need to meet for effective carbon reduction.

2. Flood Prevention

Floods and groundwater cause issues across the country. By increasing tree planting across the country, we can reduce groundwater and improve soil structure, all of which reduce erosion and property damage related to flooding.

As climate change increases the risk of extreme weather leading to floods, trees counteract two of these major problems.

3. Increase Native Biodiversity

From shrubs and fungi to beetles and animals, native trees help to improve local biodiversity. Native plants and trees have co-developed alongside other native species, and so they have evolved to be the best ‘host’ plant for them.

This isn’t just restricted to one type of tree either, such as oak or ash. Instead, a variety of native species creates a diverse eco-sphere. This in turn allows for species to increase their population and ensures a promising future for the UK’s wildlife.

4. Leans into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is something that all companies are involved in. The UK Companies Act of 2006 states that:

“a director of a company must act in the way …and have regard for (sic).. the impact of the company’s operations on the community and the environment”

For example, if a company is considering a landscaping and grounds maintenance service, they should partner with professionals who enhance the local landscape, rather than interfere or disrupt the wildlife. The specialists at Grounds Care Group deliver all services efficiently, taking measures to lessen our impact on the environment wherever possible, by taking extra steps, such as using eco-friendly, sustainable materials.

Tree planting is a valuable way to demonstrate your Corporate Social Responsibility. Not only is it an opportunity for community engagement, but it also meets environmental needs. Tree planting can also be a great way to boost relationships with clients and suppliers as well as the company’s profile, through demonstrating environmental care.

Case Study: Rory Butcher Offsets Race Emissions with Grounds Care Group

Rory Butcher, British Touring Car Championship Racer with Toyota, wanted to offset his emissions from travelling around the country to races, as well as the races themselves. He got in contact with Adam Brindle, CEO and Founder of Grounds Care Group, himself an avid racing fan, to discuss a tree planting scheme at racetracks across the country.

Adam and Rory calculated that 72 established native British trees needed to be planted in order to offset the carbon emissions from travelling to and from Rory’s home in Kirkcaldy to circuits. Additionally, Rory committed to planting more trees for each podium place, one for a third place, two for second and three for first place.

The first of these trees were planted at the Toyota racetrack, and more have since been planted with Silverstone being the first major circuit to take part.

Regarding the tree planting scheme, Adam Brindle said:

“Tree planting is one of our key focusses at the Grounds Care Group, so when Rory Butcher mentioned to me that he wanted to find a way to offset his carbon footprint from travelling to race events, it seemed like the natural solution. Race circuits might be best known for the ribbon of Tarmac on which the cars compete, but they also have acres of green space ripe for planting trees, which in turn will help to preserve the land for generations to come.”

He continued:

“Partnering with Rory has been amazing, and this is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long-lasting relationship. He has been so involved in this project and we are all hugely excited about embarking upon it with him. We would also like to thank Toyota GB and all the racetracks that have come on board so far.”

How Companies Can Implement Tree Planting

Tree planting is something that can’t be rushed. For these schemes to be effective, you need to choose local trees that will flourish in the right type of soil, as well as considering any risks in the local area and how a broader tree population will enhance the local landscape.

Partnering with a company like Grounds Care Group, who offer commercial tree planting services, ensures that not only are locally sourced trees from UK growers are used, but that trees are planted properly, and we can also provide ongoing maintenance contracts to ensure the trees are cared for year-round.

Get in touch today to discover how we can help.

The post What Are the Benefits of Planting Trees? appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

In the wintertime, risks increase, and footfall accessing your property and main roads can experience some form of disruption. Poor weather has caused many businesses to close when they’re underprepared for snow or ice. What’s more challenging is how unpredictably the weather can act in the winter, making preparation so critical if you want to keep your business in continuous operation.

For commercial sites, weather predictions help facilities and premises managers to make better decisions and be prepared. But how are these predictions made?

To understand how experts forecast long range weather predictions for the UK, means to first understand the broader global climate. t There are many different elements influencing the temperature, including sunlight and the ocean’s currents.

In this blog post we break down the latest winter predictions and what is expected to control winter weather forecast predictions for 2021-2022.

You can also learn why the UK Gritting weather forecasting system is industry leading and second to none.

Winter Weather Predictions 2021-2022

With many historical trends set to continue, climate change has made it difficult at times to identify what the future holds. Despite this, long-term forecasting can still predict what might happen in 2021 – 2022 in different regions of the UK.

Here’s what’s likely to happen.

Predictions

The key question here is – is it going to snow at the end of 2021 or at the start of 2022?

Last winter was characterised by heavy and frequent rainfall, causing flooding in certain territories. According to the Met Office, 2020 was a “year of extremes”, including record-setting rainfall throughout the winter. The occasional cold interlude caused disruptions in what has been a largely mild winter in 2020/21.

It seems unlikely that the UK will return to a severely cold winter, where the 2009/10 winter was one of the coldest recorded winters in the past 30 years. Climate projections can be a little troubled by the broader context of global warming, but the likelihood is that the UK will continue to experience mild winters.

Whilst far up north in the Scottish Highlands, residents might have noticed snow-capped mountains, the likelihood of snow across the UK is slim. Yet, the UK has been known to be unpredictable and uncertain, with snowfall often predicted only a few days before it happens, such as when the Met Office forecasted a cold snap in March 2021.

Did you know?

According to the Met Office, 2020-2021 was amongst the wettest winters on record, where February was the wettest it has ever been. This is likely to be part of a wider trend, with increasing rainfall expected to remain consistent throughout the winter months.

How is the Weather Predicted?

Seasonal models are public data that include meteorological information which are regarded as the most accurate weather predictions. The UK Met Office is one of the most highly respected, along with the European ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast), which has a great reputation for long term forecasting.

Data is only demonstrative of how weather patterns might look between 40-60% of the time and so are not absolutes.

The ENSO is still in i’s La Nina (the cold phase), albeit weaker than its peak, and that will influence global weather through the strong, high-pressure system over the North Pacific ocean.

The Past Decade of Average UK Temperature in Winter

Throughout the end of the last century, we saw a lengthy run of much milder temperatures across the winter season, which ended in 2008. Between then and 2013 we saw much colder periods, notably December 2010 which recorded the UKs first sub-zero temperature since 1986. After a severe weather alert during an extremely cold March 2013, winter has been mainly mild.

Except for the small fly in the ointment! In February 2018, the UK was hit by the now famous ‘Beast from the East’ which cost the UK economy an estimated £1BN per day. Yellow and Amber weather warnings from the Met Office were in place over the south of the country and later including the whole of the North West too. The freezing temperatures and blizzards caused chaos to roads, rail and air for several days with central England temperatures around -5°C and 70mph bitter winds of -15°C.

So you can see, it doesn’t take many freezing winters to make a massive impact on a business, which is why Grounds Care Group recommend our winter risk assessments to be completely on the safe side.

Let’s take a brief look at average winter temperatures in the UK over the past decade:

• 2010 – 1.6°C – The coldest winter for over 30 years
• 2011 – 4.5°C – much milder at 0.8°C over average
• 2012 – 3.3°C – slightly colder than average at 0.4°C less than usual temperatures
• 2013 – 5.2°C – We begin to see temperature anomalies, with an increase of 1.5°C above average
• 2014 – 3.9°C – roughly average at just 0.2°C over
• 2015 – 5.5°C – The third warmest temperature recorded in 115 years, 1.8°C above average
• 2016 – 5.0°C – Still very mild compared to usual winter temperatures
• 2017 – 3.6°C – A drop in climate bringing the mean temperature back to average
• 2018 – 5.2°C – Another rise, making a mild winter that year
• 2019 – 5.3°C – Continuing the mild trend
• 2020 – 5.1°C – The fifth wettest winter on record with regular storms and heavy rainfall (data back to 1862)

What Affects the UK Winter?

The truth is, the weather here and across every continent and country in the world is a part of a hugely complex system, which is chaotic and unpredictable. From Russia, Canada and North America, right down to New Zealand and Australia, there are a few major players in what makes the weather.

1. ENSO

El Nino Southern Oscillation or ‘ENSO’ is a region of ocean in the tropical pacific which is divided up into regions and alternates between cold and warm phases. The cold ENSO phase is called ‘La Nina’ and the warm phase ‘El Nino’. The easterly winds (known as trade winds) travel the circumference of the earth and mix the oceans’ surface, altering currents. When ENSO changes phases and emerges up and out of the ocean, the resulting pressure patterns on the atmosphere trigger changes in the weather too. These phases are determined by changes in a specific region in the tropical pacific (usually region 3 or 4), which directly impacts the tropical weather and circulation, which goes on to affect global weather. ENSO is currently in the peak of La Nina – the cold phase until January 2021, which is thought to begin weakening in Spring 2021.

La Ninas jet stream is a powerful flow of air that travels around the entire hemisphere of earth from west to east. As it goes, it affects pressure systems, which determines surface weather. The strongest jet stream happens to extend all the way over the UK. This low pressure system that follows the La Nina jet stream in the North Atlantic has resulted in stormy but mild winter conditions both in Britain and onward to Scandinavian countries.

2. Oscillations

An oscillation is where two things move back and forth at a regular rhythm, so when talking about weather patterns, it is in regard to pressure patterns.

The North Atlantic Oscillation or ‘NAO’ refers to pressure patterns over the North Atlantic, during which block areas of high pressure, pushing colder arctic air down over the UK and some of northern Europe.
The Quasi-biennial oscillation or ‘QBO’ index are the variations of winds that blow miles above the equator in the stratosphere, laterally around the earth, changing direction every year to 14 months. When these winds blow east the phase is negative, when they blow west, it’s positive. The relationship to weather is that, when the QBO is in a negative phase, there’s a greater chance that winter will be colder.

At the moment, the QBO is blowing westward, meaning it’s positive. What’s odd is that they changed direction after just 7 months, as opposed to the usual 14. This change suggests winter will be milder.

3. Solar Activity

Solar activity and the earth’s weather is only a suggested link and as yet not proven. It is thought by some that the position of a solar cycle can increase the chance of a cold winter in Western Europe. Currently, there’s a solar minimum cycle which means improved winter forecast.

How to Safeguard Your Business from Snow this Winter

So, snow winter predictions aren’t looking likely as yet, but having a winter maintenance contract in place means to insure against extreme winter weather and make sure you have a go to if you do end up needing services like snow clearance or gritting.
Our contractors are able to carry out the following winter gritting services:

● Winter risk management
● Single Site Gritting
● Multi-Site Gritting
● Service options
● Snow clearance
● Salt supplies and grit bins
● Weather forecasting monitoring

With GCGRP you can enjoy a regular update on everything that’s happening and what’s coming. Our bespoke live reporting and scheduling system is an invaluable tool for your facilities manager or property manager, helping them stay completely in control, no matter what the weather brings. Our gritting services are nationwide, covering all over north and south England alike.

Below is a sample of the site we grit and snow clear in Greater London.

The post 2021-2022 UK Winter Weather Predictions appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

We cover the process behind deadwooding, and how it can be used to improve conservation efforts as well as being important for good tree care.

How does deadwooding work?

Deadwooding is the removal of dead wood from a living tree. Dead parts of a tree are often produced naturally, as a tree diverts energy to other parts, or it receives sunlight from only one angle. Much like how humans shed skin particles, trees shed parts of themselves that are dead in order to make way for new growth.

However, in commercial settings and outside of forests, falling deadwood can cause serious damage to humans, property, and even cause disruption to roads. This is where arborists and tree surgeons come in. They are able to detect which branches will need cutting off before they fall, and can identify the best course of action for each tree.

Discovering deadwood

In an initial survey, a tree surgeon will be able to identify the deadwood that poses a risk, and at which order it should be chopped down. A tree survey is carried out at this stage to help discover what any problems are, and also how the deadwood has been formed.

Deadwood can be formed, largely, through two processes:

• Decay from the inside out, through fungi or beetles.
• Decay from the outside in, where storms, disease or drought cause decay

Creating a plan

Deadwood can be removed in a number of ways and, depending on the scale, some may need more planning than others. For example, a veteran tree with deadwood in the crown (top branches) and a decaying core, may need a different care plan than a younger tree that has been damaged due to a storm.

Once the plan of how the tree will be deadwooded is in place, a plan of what to do with that deadwood is also needed.

Deciding on use for the deadwood

Deadwood is of great ecological importance across all landscapes. Depending on the type of wood, and the location of the tree, the wood may be used for a variety of purposes.

• Near water deadwood. Deadwood has been shown to be of great importance in bodies of water, from providing key habitats for invertebrates, to providing benefits for fish populations.
• Deadwood for food sources. A number of woodland species depend on deadwood for food, and fungal growth can contribute to this. Often these species are protected as they are rare, in part due to the reduction in deadwood.
• Deadwood habitats. Plants such as bryophytes rely on deadwood for habitats, as do a lot of hibernating plants. Oak jewel beetles and cardinal beetles also rely on deadwood.

Removing the deadwood

While anyone could remove deadwood, it’s best for a specialist arborist to do so, as these experts can identify issues, and have the correct training and insurance to remove deadwood safely. An expert will also understand tree duty of care and how this can affect the work required.

Grounds Care Group provides deadwooding services to safely remove the necessary branches before they dangerously break off.

The Benefit of Managing Deadwood on Commercial Properties

Commercial properties can hugely benefit from deadwooding. Not only does it increase the potential profitability from the sale of the logs that are alive, it also creates a healthy environment for trees.

When managed continuously by a tree surgeon, commercial tree deadwood can provide benefits such as CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) to a company and create an ecologically diverse workspace.

If you think your commercial property has deadwood, or is even at risk from deadwood damage, get in touch with the expert team at Grounds Care Group now.

The post The Importance of Managing Deadwood appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

In short, the meaning of tree surgery is ‘the pruning and treating of old or damaged trees in order to preserve them’.

Tree surgery is often thought of as a one-off remedy when a tree is at risk of damaging humans or property, or when it already has.

Tree surgery involves a variety of techniques to care for and keep your trees healthy, such as pollarding, pruning, and stump removal to prevent the spread of disease. These tree surgery techniques all form part of a tree maintenance plan and help the landowner to maintain their tree duty of care.

What Is a Tree Surgeon?

A tree surgeon, also sometimes known as a tree climber or an arborist, is a professional who specialises in the care and maintenance of trees.

Tree surgeons often work at height and use specialised equipment, so their job requires significant training, knowledge of tree biology, and a strong emphasis on safety.

What Does a Tree Surgeon Do?

A tree surgeon will provide an expert opinion on the way to deal with trees. A good tree surgeon will also be able to advise you on ways to make your trees more aesthetically pleasing and allow growth on the floor below them.

Part of tree surgery is also about preventing future accidents. Thanks to expert training, tree surgeons can identify dead, infected or at-risk parts of a tree, and remove them before they become a hazard. This is part of the the tree duty of care that property owners are required to fulfil.

When Should a Tree Surgeon Visit?

In reality, a tree surgeon should regularly visit your site as they can not only advise on prevention but can ensure your trees are protected, safe, and benefit your environment.

Making tree surgery a regular part of your grounds maintenance plan will not only benefit you but also generations to come.

When Is It Time To Prune a Tree?

There are many times when pruning a tree may be apt. It can help to create long-lasting cover, ensure the safety of a building or person and improve its appearance.

Density

If a tree is getting very dense, it will be time to prune a tree. As well as increasing light let through, removing density increases the safety of a tree by ensuring no branch is too heavily laden.

Dead Sections

“Hanging like dead wood” is a famous idiom, but in tree surgery, it’s a literal problem!

Dead parts of a tree are liable to fall at any point. They could have also died due to infection or invasive animals like caterpillars, which could mean long-term problems. Therefore, removing dead parts of a tree is important to keep it alive.

Dangerously Placed Branches

If a tree is growing too near a telephone wire or building, then it’s time to prune it back to guarantee safety.

Why Is Using a Tree Surgeon Important?

Tree surgeons don’t just remove dead tree parts, they are paramount to ensuring a tree grows and also benefits the biological landscape you’re trying to cultivate.

Careful and strategically planned decisions about how a tree is cared for can also improve the quality of the stems and cultivate an attractive appearance of a tree. Choosing which stems are staying and which are going will also improve the light below the tree, all of which can be used to create a biodiverse environment.

Tree Surgery Techniques

Tree surgeons have a number of expert techniques at their disposal to help keep trees healthy and under control. Below we have listed the most common and effective methods used:

Tree Pollarding and Pruning

Pollarding is a traditional term in tree management, but in recent years, pruning has evolved to mean the same thing.

Pollarding is an important and historical part of tree care, having been around since the Roman times, pollarding involves trimming the crown of the tree.

Pollarding is only suitable for certain types of trees, mainly deciduous broad-leaved trees, although some conifers can be suitable. The key aspect to pollarding is that the tree must be able to produce epicormic growth, or water shoots (fast-growing tree shoots).

How Can Pollarding a Tree Help?

Pruning and pollarding involves removing all excess branches aside from the main limbs and the trunk of the tree itself. Then, as the tree grows back, it looks maintained and orderly. There is also the added benefit of the tree only growing from live branches, with all dead wood removed.

Tree Crown Reduction 

The crown is the top part of the tree, starting from when the trunk beings sprouting.

Tree crown reduction involves pruning individual branches or removing dead wood. Tree surgeons may also remove overlapping branches in order to give every branch an equal opportunity to be exposed to light, and therefore promote healthy growth.

Tree Crown Lifting

Similarly to crown reduction, crown lifting involves removing excess branches. However, lifting removes only the lower branches to allow the tree to gain height, and increase the amount of light that leaks through onto the floor.

Stump Grinding and Removal

Where a tree has been felled, the stump and roots can sometimes be left awkwardly or messily. Stump grinding will remove the top of the stump before the roots are removed separately.

Both of these techniques can be especially important if the tree was diseased or carrying pests, as this will prevent trees in other areas from being infected.

Felling Trees

There are some circumstances, such as a diseased tree or trees too close together, where felling is the only solution. Felling involves chopping down the tree in stages in the safest way possible.

Factors such as space to fell, existing habitats in or around the trees, and proximity to properties and roads, must all be considered to ensure a fell is successful.

Dead Wooding and Branch Removal 

Parts of trees will naturally die, but if not carefully maintained, these limbs and branches become dangerous as they are likely to fall. Regular maintenance is key here to ensure the safety of your trees and site. Removing dead wood and branches will keep your trees growing well and your grounds safe.

Why Choose Grounds Care Group to Carry Out Tree Surgery and Regular Maintenance?

Not only does our live reporting system allow you to see the progress of jobs, but our expert tree surgeons come with the same guarantee that the rest of our work does.

Get in touch today for help getting your trees under control.

The post A Guide to Tree Surgery appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

Good biosecurity practice is becoming a growing priority and the UK government have labelled the “damage to our trees, woods and forests from insect pests and organisms” as “significant.” More importantly, this interest is now shared by both the public and corporations alike, who are actively taking responsibility for nurturing the environment through initiatives like planting native trees.

Since the 2000’s, the demand for rare and exotic hardwoods, the increasing use of timbers in transport, and an interest in unique plants has resulted in a harmful growth of imported pests and bacteria from abroad. Many developments, including natural pests and disease, have created an urgency to better understand our trees and the challenges they face.

Trees are constantly under pressure all the time from a variety of diseases and pests, which can have dire consequences for their health. From leaf damage to wilting, these can be identified by common symptoms. Many businesses want trees to thrive rather than simply survive.

Which trees are most at-risk?

We’ve analysed data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to identify some of the most at-risk trees in the UK, particularly those threatened by pests and landscape changes. This information is crucial for understanding how tree diseases and pests affect our native tree populations and the overall health of our woodlands.

Here are the key findings regarding the most vulnerable tree species:

Critically Endangered Trees in the UK

Several tree species in the UK are critically endangered due to various threats, including pests and diseases. The most at-risk trees include:

1. Catacol Whitebeam
2. Arran Service Tree
3. Cheddar Whitebeam
4. Ship Rock Whitebeam
5. Green’s Whitebeam
6. Sorbus Spectans (A type of Whitebeam)
   

Another noticeable tree classified as ‘vulnerable’ is the horse chestnut, which is nostalgic for many living in the British countryside. Known for bearing conkers, these trees have been celebrated by children and are associated with autumn.

Common Tree Pests Threatening Native Trees in the UK

While there are numerous blights that affect our native trees, the Woodland Trust has identified some major ones that negaNumerous pests threaten our native trees, with some causing significant damage to woodlands across the UK.

The Woodland Trust has identified several key pests that pose a serious risk to our forest ecosystems. Understanding these threats is crucial for protecting our trees and preserving biodiversity.

Asian and Citrus Longhorn Beetles

The Asian and Citrus Longhorn Beetle is a significant threat to a variety of broadleaf trees in the UK. This pest is often inadvertently imported on wooden crates and infected plants, particularly bonsai trees from China. Its capacity for widespread damage makes it crucial to monitor and manage this pest effectively.

Endangered Trees:

• Alder
• Birch
• Whitebeam
• Oak
• Willow

Bronze Birch Borer

The Bronze Birch Borer poses a considerable risk to both European and UK birch trees. As strong fliers, these beetles can spread rapidly, leading to potential infestations that threaten tree health. To mitigate this risk, the importation of birch trees from the US or Canada is strictly prohibited.

Endangered Trees:

• Silver Birch
• Betula Pendula
• Downy Birch
• Sweet Birch

Eight-Toothed Spruce Bark Beetle

The Eight-Toothed Spruce Bark Beetle is responsible for significant dieback in spruce trees and carries a pathogenic fungus that can exacerbate tree health issues. Last found in the UK in 2018 after accidental importation, its potential impact on Scotland’s rare and protected pine forests raises considerable concern.

Endangered Trees:

• Norway Spruce
• Sitka Spruce
• Scots Pine
• Larch

Elm Zig-Zag Sawfly

Since its arrival in the UK in 2017, the Elm Zig-Zag Sawfly has caused notable damage to Elm populations, particularly in the Southeast and East Midlands. The larvae of this pest can severely damage leaves, making the trees vulnerable to further harm and drought conditions.

Endangered Trees:

• English Elm
• Wych Elm
• Smooth-Leaved Elm

Oak Lace Bug

Although the UK has some native lace bug species, the Oak Lace Bug is particularly harmful, with no current populations present. However, the risk of it spreading locally remains high, which could severely affect the process of photosynthesis for oak trees and their surrounding ecosystems.

Endangered Trees:

• English Oak
• Sessile Oak
• Turkey Oak

Oak Processionary Moth

The Oak Processionary Moth is notorious for its damaging effects on both trees and humans. Its caterpillars have irritating spines that can cause skin rashes and itching. Initially confined to Greater London after its accidental introduction in 2006, this moth has since spread, stripping oak trees of their leaves and creating nests that complicate their natural shedding process.

Endangered Trees:

• English Oak
• Pedunculate Oak
• Red Oak

Red-Necked Longhorn Beetle

The Red-Necked Longhorn Beetle typically infects cherry trees, hiding in the trunk where signs of infestation are not apparent until significant damage has occurred. The beetles burrow and remain concealed in the trunk during colder weather, emerging only when temperatures rise, making early detection challenging.

Endangered Trees:

• Cherry
• Plum
• Apricot

Diseases Affecting UK Native Trees

Dutch Elm disease has already claimed the lives of 60 million trees, highlighting the severity of the threats facing native tree populations. Currently, the UK is grappling with six epidemic-level pests and diseases. 

As climate change continues to impact our environment, the prevalence of tree diseases is expected to rise, with warmer and wetter conditions fostering the growth of harmful bacteria and pathogens.

Several dangerous diseases pose significant risks to native trees, including:

Ash Dieback

Predicted to affect 80% of Ash trees fatally, Ash dieback has the potential to kill, damage or harm numerous EAsh dieback is predicted to affect 80% of ash trees fatally, potentially killing, damaging, or harming numerous European species of ash. While it does not impact the native hosts where it originated in Japan, it has devastated European trees for over 30 years.

This disease has cost taxpayers up to £15 billion in efforts to combat its spread, making it one of the biggest threats to native trees in the UK today.

Acute Oak Decline

Acute Oak Decline is a phenomenon observed for the past two decades, particularly affecting older oak trees that may die within five years. This decline typically results from a combination of environmental stress and other contributing factors.

Phytophthora Ramorum

Phytophthora ramorum is a water mould that causes Sudden Oak Death, impacting several tree species, including oak, larch, and rhododendron. This disease can lead to significant tree mortality and has been a growing concern in UK woodlands.

Horse Chestnut Bleeding Canker

This bacterial disease affects horse chestnut trees, leading to the characteristic bleeding of sap from infected areas. While it may not always be fatal, it significantly weakens trees, making them more susceptible to other pests and diseases.

Chalara Ash Dieback

Similar to Ash dieback, Chalara is another fungal disease that specifically targets ash trees. Its rapid spread and potential to devastate ash populations pose a severe threat to the biodiversity of UK woodlands.

Tree Diseases, Pests and the Law

Since Brexit, there is now different ‘plant passports’ that are required to import trees, plants, soil matter and more, into England, Scotland and Wales. To bring certain high risk plants and plant products into Great Britain you must now have a Phytosanitary Certificate (PC).

For moving plants around Great Britain, specifically in commercial settings, you will need a UK Plant Passport. This details information about the plant, it’s origin and more.

The UK Law on imported plants is strict, as we are easily able to control what pests, diseases and alien species are brought in with strict restrictions

Prevention of Tree Diseases and Pests

Preventing the spread of tree diseases and pests involves a multifaceted approach. In addition to implementing strict regulations on plant passports and sourcing practices, there are several proactive measures that can be taken to safeguard our native trees. 

Grounds Care Group is committed to adhering to all biosecurity regulations, ensuring that our tree surgeons are well-informed about any legal changes, especially in light of post-Brexit adjustments.

How Tree Surgery Can Battle Pests and Diseases

Tree surgeons and arborists possess the expertise to identify pests and diseases much earlier than the untrained eye. Regular visits from skilled tree surgeons are essential for maintaining the health and longevity of your trees.

At Grounds Care Group, we offer specialised tree surveys that help detect signs of pests and diseases early on, allowing for timely intervention and treatment. For more information on how we can help protect your trees from potential threats, contact us today!

The post Most Common Tree Diseases & Pests in the UK: Identification and Endangered Trees appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

This accelerated urbanisation, especially within city limits, has minimised the availability of green spaces and increased air pollution. Cities are often homogonous environments that feature impressive and exciting skylines. They play a critical role in supporting social, economic and even ecological systems. Yet, when a city becomes saturated, it can lead to all kinds of harm on the natural environment and human health. The urban landscape represents an urgent need for more sustainable development and a better regard for biodiversity. This, some have said, will welcome a new era of ‘ecological urbanism’.  

Urban Sustainability – explained

Over 50% of the global population live in urban dwelling. The United Nations predicts this number will climb to 70% by the middle of the century. Meanwhile, harmful and often illegal pollution levels are responsible for poor human health and this is a global problem. Between a scaling population and dangerous pollution levels, there’s never been more urgency to address issues about the climate than before.

Answering to sustainability as a mission for city planning, it’s no surprise that major destinations from New York to Delhi, and London to Melbourne, are looking to transform cities through sustainable landscaping.

The proposed ideas and theories for greener city transformations go beyond cosmetic changes. Urban sustainability describes this shared motivation – by policymakers, businesses, and residents alike – to live and work in urban spaces that carry minimal environmental footprints. This means expanding opportunities not just socially, culturally and economically, but also ecologically from within city limits. Stockholm, for example, is a city driven by sustainability goals that are shared by residents and larger institutions. From recycling household waste, to energy efficiency in buildings, sustainability is approached both practically and holistically.

In 2021, urban landscaping concepts are evolving. Whilst we might not be able to always expand the number of green parks over limited available space, we can still adapt the existing infrastructure. A growing number of green space developers, architects and commercial landscapers are engineering urban design to include plants, foliage, fauna, and trees. Buildings are capable of being living ecosystems, featuring green walls, sedum roofs and natural fence landscaping ideas that invigorate and renew life itself from within the city limits. Benefits of green spaces and the availability of nature can touch every industry and community from inner-city schools to business parks.

By utilising existing buildings, commercial spaces are transforming from just another dreary grey part of the urban landscape into greener infrastructures that can support ecological goals, including biodiversity. Sustainable city planning and design goes deeper than landscape architecture and, instead, focuses on creating greener solutions that recruits, nurtures, and supports nature.

What is a “Green Space” and Why Does it Matter?

So, what is green space? Formally defined, green space is any public or private land featuring natural elements within an urban area, including water. Types of open urban green spaces include parks, public and private gardens, riversides, allotments, and green corridors with urban trees and vegetation.

Green spaces in cities are especially vital and are often understood as the lungs of a city. These spaces are associated with nature and help to counteract many of the negative impacts that pollution and urban saturation can have on the environment and on the health of city residents.  Green spaces help to minimise our carbon footprint and promote biodiversity in urban areas, whilst supporting human health.

Sustainability in urban areas

Ecologists, researchers and economists support definitions of urban green space as public and private spaces in urban areas, ‘primarily covered in vegetation which is directly or indirectly available for users’. Yet, the benefits of sustainability in urban areas can improve human health. 

We already know that plants are proven to help our cognitive function, improve air quality and soothe the mind. Even a single potted plant can make a difference to our health and wellbeing. Nature has the power to convey feelings of safety, opportunity, freedom, connection and simple pleasure from our environment. These elements profoundly affect our emotional and mental health, to conduct work productively and to form and maintain relationships. 

How Much of London is Green Space?

Soft surfaces comprising of vegetation, grass and soil in London accounts for 18% of the entire city. London’s current mayor, Sadiq Khan, supported London being declared the world’s first national park city by news pundits, and has further goals to make more than 50% of the capitol green by 2050. Future sustainable urban development plans include river restoration, new habitats for wildlife and improved green spaces like community gardens. From the Greener Capital Fund, “green capital grants” will economically support many of these projects.

Examples of Urban Sustainability

Leading by example, Singapore is often considered the garden city. With a population of 5.7 million, Singapore is the second most densely populated place on earth. It also cleared over 95% of its natural vegetation to make way for growing industry and capitalism. By the 1960s, air pollution levels were climbing to record highs and the often-poor human health of its residents reflected that.

In the 1990s, Singapore pledged to become what’s known as a ‘biophilic’ city. Singapore planned to reclaim green space, rewilding as many areas of the city as possible to create natural habitats and spur biodiversity. Nowadays, and in a short timeframe, Singapore has become widely recognised for its environmental achievements and represents what is possible for sustainable urbanism. The incorporation of rooftop gardens, vertical green walls and urban plants have seen air pollution levels remain consistent since the turn of the decade and this supports more ambitious targets looking ahead.

The Benefits of Making Cities Greener

We know that a single plant can make a difference within a home, so just imagine what would happen if entire cities became greener and, therefore, more sustainable. The benefits of sustainability seem limitless, including:

• Air quality in urban areas will dramatically improve, as plants absorb carbon and provide oxygen. The more shrubs, flowers and even trees within a city landscape, the cleaner the air.
• Plants also attract general pollution and act as vegetation barriers. Various studies have suggested that air pollutants are reduced by up to 20% surrounding a building that has natural vegetation.
• Green infrastructure helps to cool things down, blocking out the radiating heat from buildings and roads. Green cities like Singapore regularly report reductions in temperature by up to 10˚. This reduces the need for air conditioning in the hottest months, which further minimises CO2 emissions
• Green or sedum roofs on buildings (or where the entire surface of the roof is covered in vegetation) helps to regulate consistent temperatures with the surrounding air.
• Climate change creates rising temperatures, so vegetation in the city has many purposes: it’s vital for helping reduce the effects of global warming, additional foliage and trees provide necessary shade and minimise pollution.
• During rainy seasons, plants have excellent absorption capacity. Vegetated buildings can reduce the harm of rainfall, as it prevents flooding on the ground below.
• Noise pollution is reduced, as plants act like a buffer for surrounding sounds of traffic, construction and city life. Noise levels are significantly reduced when inside a building, too.

The Benefits of Landscaping for Commercial Properties

Corporate offices are designed to be efficient and professional. Green spaces, including vegetation, can improve workplace productivity, as much as help buildings operated more efficiently and sustainability.

Transforming a building into a sustainable one has several benefits for employers, employees and the facility managers, such as: 

• Sustainability and eco-friendliness are key goals in the next decade and beyond and legislation is likely to reinforce these with practical goals.
• A well organised and presented landscape also reflects your company and its culture. Floral displays, shrubs, hedgerow and trees all come together to create the lasting impact and perception about your business, which is especially valuable for those with visiting client. From arrival to departure, the experience of your building should be visually appealing and relaxing.
• Clever urban landscaping can act as a deterrent for intruders. By placing appropriate hedgerow and foliage strategically around the ground floor, you have a natural barrier. The same goes for areas of your building that are non-accessible, such as electrical boxes. This helps keep your building safe and prevents accidents and injuries at work.
• Commercial landscaping is useful as ‘natural signage’ too. Plants can direct pedestrians along required routes of the building, which creates aesthetically pleasing walkways that are safe and secure.
• Property value goes up by as much as 15% when well maintained, so commercial landscaping is critical if you’re interested in the property market.
• Some offices have wall-mounted artistic plant displays for employees to enjoy, with others even using colour coded plants to help people locate where they are in the building. Arrangements of plants in reception can even be designed to mimic the company logo or strapline.

Why is urban sustainability important?

Whilst cites are opportunistic for businesses and people alike, today’s urban lifestyle is somewhat unhealthy. From stimulus overload to poor air quality, the city is a place that could be changed to improve employment and lifestyles. Whether noise pollution or stress, messy and chaotic urban sites can undermine human functions like motivation, self-control, mood and memory.

A study by the Central Institute of Mental Health in Germany found that, in comparison to those living in the countryside, people who live in the city did not cope with stress as well. Another study from Holland found that anxiety disorders rose by 21% and mood disorder by 39%, while the chance of schizophrenia doubled when living in a built environment – to name a few of the impacts on human health.

When commenting on urbanisation and health, The World Health Organisation observes how “health challenges particularly evident in cities relate to water, environment, violence and injury”.

Those with access to available green urban spaces report feelings of wellbeing, are able to function better and enjoy their time at work more. The diversity of life outside of humans in the form of birds, insects and flowers brings much by way of mental breaks and connecting to inner peacefulness. People are less stressed, energised and calm.

Landscape and Urban Planning

Sustainable urban living offers a more productive, safer, sustainable alternative to chaotic urban business parks undermined by poor air quality, noise pollution and rising facility costs owed to operational inefficiency. 

With planning and management, the urban landscape holds endless possibility. During planning, vegetationshould be responsibly and expertly designed to support a building’s objectives for sustainability. Yet, too often, greenery is removed.

A landscaping professional that understands how to incorporate vegetation strategically, can help a commercial premise enjoy unique advantages both by its workers and for facility managers.

Professional commercial landscapers like Grounds Care Group will help you plan and design your outdoor urban area. Our expert team of horticulturists can find all manner of ways to bring natural foliage, trees and grasses to your building, whilst reinforcing your goals. We can even maintain your premises throughout the seasons, ensuring your green space remains functional.

Get in touch today for more information on how you can transform your business grounds.

The post Toward Greener Cities in 2021: How Landscaping Supports Urban Sustainability appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

This guide explores what fly-tipping is, how it affects people and places, why it happens, and what you can do to prevent it or deal with it if it happens on your land.

What Is Fly-Tipping?

Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste on land or in water without permission. It’s distinct from littering due to the size and type of waste involved, often large or hazardous items such as:

• White goods (fridges, freezers, washing machines)
• Construction waste (bricks, tiles, plasterboard, timber)
• Household furniture (sofas, mattresses, cupboards)
• Green waste (hedge trimmings, lawn clippings, soil)
• Hazardous materials (batteries, asbestos, oils, chemicals)

The legal definition, set out by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), describes fly-tipping as a waste crime. Offenders can be prosecuted with serious penalties.

Where Does Fly-Tipping Happen?

Fly-tipping is most commonly found:

• On roadsides and laybys
• In woodland or rural areas
• Behind retail units or in business parks
• On farmland or private access tracks
• In disused car parks or alleyways

Nearly half of all reported fly-tipping incidents take place on pavements or public roads. However, private land, particularly agricultural, is also heavily targeted, and those cases often go unreported.

Fly-Tipping Examples

Fly-tipping can range from a single dumped mattress to coordinated tipping involving heavy goods vehicles. Common examples include:

• Car boot-sized loads of household rubbish
• Small van loads of DIY or renovation waste
• Garden waste piles abandoned in hedgerows or ditches
• Fridges and freezers stripped of parts and dumped
• Tipper trucks unloading construction waste onto farmland

The misconception that green waste is harmless often leads to illegal dumping in nature reserves or rural areas. But even biodegradable waste can disrupt ecosystems and block waterways.

Why Does Fly-Tipping Happen?

Defra data shows that 62% of fly-tipping involves household waste, suggesting that many incidents come from individuals rather than organised criminals. Reasons include:

• Avoiding the cost or inconvenience of legal disposal
• Limited access to council recycling centres
• Unwittingly hiring unlicensed waste carriers
• Confusion about legal responsibility or disposal rules
• Belief that biodegradable waste (e.g. green waste) is “less harmful”
• Infrequent waste collections in some areas

A Defra study found that awareness of waste duty of care was low among the public. Many residents didn’t know they could be fined for paying an unlicensed operator to remove their rubbish.

The Impact of Fly-Tipping

Fly-tipping causes extensive harm across several areas:

Environmental damage

Toxins from dumped waste pollute soil and water, harming plants and wildlife. Plastics may break down into microplastics and enter the food chain.

Public health risks

Food waste, contaminated materials and pest infestations can cause disease or injury.

Safety concerns

Rubbish near roads can create hazards for drivers and cyclists. Waste blocking gates or fire exits is a threat to emergency access.

Financial burden

Local councils spent more than £13 million clearing fly-tipped waste in 2021. Landowners, who receive no public funding, bear the cost when the crime occurs on private land.

Undermining responsible operators

Rogue waste businesses undercut licensed companies by ignoring disposal laws. This damages the legal waste management sector and skews public expectations around cost.

Fly-Tipping Laws and Penalties

Fly-tipping is a criminal offence under several laws:

• Environmental Protection Act 1990
• Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005
• Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989

Penalties include:

• Fines up to £50,000
• Imprisonment of up to 5 years
• Seizure of vehicles used in the offence
• Fixed Penalty Notices of up to £400

Householders are also liable if they fail to ensure their waste is handled by an authorised carrier. Ignorance is not a defence: if your waste is fly-tipped, you can still be fined.

How Often Are Fly-Tippers Caught?

Despite over a million incidents annually, conviction rates are low. A 2020 Freedom of Information request revealed that only 3.6% of fly-tipping complaints resulted in a fine or prosecution.

However, enforcement is increasing. Between 2018 and 2019, over 76,000 fixed penalties were issued. Councils are also gaining new powers to seize vehicles and pursue repeat offenders more aggressively.

Fly-Tipping on Private Land

Unlike public land, fly-tipping on private property is not covered by local authority budgets. This means the landowner is legally responsible for removing the waste and may be prosecuted if they fail to do so.

The Environment Agency studied eight landowners and found:

• 94% had experienced fly-tipping
• The average cost per incident was £809
• Some sites were hit over 100 times in a year

Farms are particularly vulnerable due to remote locations and easy vehicle access. Fly-tipping on fields can destroy crops, damage land and create major biohazard risks for livestock.

How to Prevent Fly-Tipping on Your Land

While no solution is guaranteed, there are several proven deterrents:

Physical barriers

Install fences, bunds or gates to block vehicle access. Use natural deterrents like hedging where possible.

Signage and lighting

“No Fly Tipping” signs and motion-activated lights show a site is monitored. Pairing these with visible cameras increases effectiveness.

CCTV and remote monitoring

Security cameras with automated alerts can help catch offenders in the act. Footage is also useful for reporting and prosecution.

Waste storage best practices

Keep skips and bins out of sight and locked if possible. Avoid stockpiling large amounts of visible waste.

Community collaboration

Report incidents to the local council or Environment Agency. Share information with neighbours and encourage vigilance.

National and Business-Led Prevention Campaigns

The National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG), supported by Defra, brings together stakeholders to:

• Raise awareness about the impact of fly-tipping
• Understand why offenders dump waste
• Influence government policy
• Promote best practice for landowners and councils

Meanwhile, the Right Waste, Right Place campaign educates small businesses on legal waste disposal. This is crucial because up to 90% of waste-related offences come from companies with under 50 employees.

What Should You Do if Someone Fly-Tips on Your Property?

1. Do not touch or move the waste, it could be hazardous or contaminated.
2. Report it immediately to your local authority or the Environment Agency.
3. Document the scene with photos or videos. Note vehicle registration numbers or descriptions if you saw the event.
4. Hire a professional fly-tipping waste removal service to ensure lawful disposal.
5. Keep records of the incident and removal process in case of future investigations.

Never approach fly-tippers yourself. Some are part of organised criminal activity and may be dangerous.

Why Green Waste Still Counts as Fly-Tipping

There is a common misconception that tipping garden waste in hedgerows or woodland is harmless. But green waste can:

• Introduce non-native species
• Spread pesticides or soil disease
• Block natural drainage and lead to flooding
• Alter local ecosystems

Whether it’s biodegradable or not, unauthorised dumping of any waste is considered fly-tipping under UK law.

Choose a Trusted Partner for Fly-Tipped Waste Removal

At Grounds Care Group, we specialise in safe, legal and environmentally responsible fly-tipping removal. We help private landowners, businesses and housing associations manage waste incidents with:

• Fully licensed clearance services
• Transparent documentation of where waste is taken
• Live reporting systems
• Eco-conscious disposal routes
• Nationwide response capability

We’re committed to helping clients meet their duty of care and protect their property, without adding to landfill or legal risk.

Book Your Fly-Tipping Clearance Today

If you’ve been affected by fly-tipping, don’t take risks with your health, safety or legal obligations. Grounds Care Group can help you resolve the issue professionally and with peace of mind.

The post How to Deal with Fly-Tipping: From Prevention to Care appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

With its seasonal demands and hard labour, the commercial world of agriculture has been one of the first areas to benefit from, and revolutionise through, autonomous robotics. Yet, sophisticated gardening equipment including robots and drones, is not limited to commercial farming. Although human intervention will always be needed for inspiring landscaping designs, robotics and automatons can play a supporting role in the future of lawncare, whereby using technology as a way to enhance and improve existing manual practices.

Initial predictions by analysts have shown how robotics is a quickly taking over many of the traditional roles involved with landscaping. The introduction of robotic lawnmowers, for example, has rapidly changed how people maintain their lawns, both on commercial properties and residential ones.

With this advanced technical equipment, it has become possible to retain the artistic and original appeal of commercial landscaping, yet remove some of the physical and mental tax associated with it. Through combining robotics and AI into existing landscaping methods, automated gardening replaces the manual, and often inconvenient, ways of landscaping.

From software to drones, how exactly can robots help lawncare and landscaping?

How Can Robots Help Us Grow Plants?

For food, flora and fauna-based industries, we’re already seeing static robots perform labour intensive tasks such as cutting, de-leafing, trimming, and harvesting. Gardening warehouses and greenhouses across the world are already benefiting, too.

Robots can seed and also put plug plants directly from tray to soil, which increases productivity and efficiency for growers on a greater scale.

Machines can scan for disease and pests, giving vital insight for breeders and growers alike. Artificial intelligence examines root systems via inbuilt cameras. Findings are collected and analysed, in turn helping horticulturists discover more about their plant life. Through machine-assisted learnings, new generations of stronger and healthier plants have been able to develop. 

Computers allow better communication too in the shape of software. For example, a landscaper can more accurately track data about particular plants for production and inform the supply chain.

The confidence in this technology is key to the successful future of soft landscaping, as Grounds Care Group Founder and CEO Adam Brindle observes:

“As a national grounds maintenance company, we’re always looking for ways we can serve our customers better, whilst making choices that benefit both our business and our staff. Technology is advancing way beyond a simple chain saw – right now we are invested in finding the best cutting edge landscape solutions that help us evolve”.

AI and Sustainability  

AI and robotics can do more than play a supporting role in helping to inform key decisions about a landscape. As the practice becomes more eco-efficient, AI can help landscaping adapt its operation for sustainability.  

For example, preservation of both wildlife and a regions biodiversity can be enhanced via technology, by learning how to reduce the use of harmful pesticides, as well as improving soil health. Efforts in boosting the natural environment are recognised through the likes of ecological mitigation, which can support sustainability goals for a commercial property. Whether a school, businesses, hospital, or housing estate, the positive benefits of an enhanced natural biodiversity in the landscape are seemingly endless.

AI and Agriculture

As the global population grows and there is greater demand on food, technology has become more important than ever as part of the solution. Agriculture is one of the key areas where automations in gardening has developed, and this will likely influence the landscaping industry.

Farm robots are a part of a project called Farmbots – an agricultural farming scheme that combines robotic farming machinery, software and documentation. The scheme, started in 2011, has the goal to create source precision technology that allows larger operations to grow food productively and efficiently. For farmers, the ability to automatically monitor the presence of pests and plant disease is a game-changing development that helps limit crop failure.

Using real-time data means that every change in temperature, humidity and sunset is recorded, lending insight to horticulturists and farmers alike. This information can be shared not only nationally, but globally. This allows the entire agricultural, farming, gardening, food production and soft landscaping industry to better understand and prepare for connected occurrences around the world.

By communicating fully, and within a connected community of sorts, we can also avoid pests and disease being transported from country to country via the shipment of non-native foreign plants and trees.

Find out more about the importance of planting native trees as a way of supporting the environment.

The Future of Technology in Gardening  

A futuristic research project from Europe called Flora Robotica is investigating how machines and plants can relate to one another.

The premise of the project is to try to blend the ‘skillsets’ of the plants and robotics together. The natural ability of plants to adapt to things like light and water can be combined with the speed and intellect of robots.

This unique relationship can be used to influence the plants in the way they grow and repair themselves. Plants act as a biosensor, giving feedback to their robotic components, not only supporting and boosting their own natural cycle, but also as a scaffold to help them regulate.

The result is the manipulation of the plants to grow into shapes and forms that we manoeuvre via our programming of the robots. Rather than assembling materials into an end product or object, future architecture would centre on horticultural principles and how plants could grow.

Essentially, we could use plants in a whole new way, occupying and regenerating multiple urban spaces and removing pollution. Green spaces could bring back harmony between human occupied areas and the natural world.

Robotic Lawnmowers for homes

Technology tends to development from larger agriculture or horticulture operations. When it comes to everyday lawncare, robots have started to replace mowers.

Robotic lawnmowers have been in development for over 20 years and are continuing to grow in popularity with 17% of the global market. Over time, prices have gone down and although still far more expensive than traditional mowers, robotic mowers are more economical when compared with paying a gardener. Popular models are always evolving and inspiring the ways we care for our lawns at home.

How will robots replace lawn mowers?

Fully automated, a robot lawnmower removes the need manual labour. They’re also considerably safer than the conventional lawnmower, as much as they can offer the homeowner more convenience and efficiency.

Yet, there are complications with lawncare that must be considered.

Lawncare requires a slightly different approach to maintain each and every lawn. Soil type, breed of grass, age, weed content and climate are all factors that a professional landscaper or gardener would consider. Robot mowers cannot, however, sense where the ground is uneven, nor can they detect where grass might be denser. Robots can’t level, or edge properties either.

The human element of landscaping – from creative design to caring for detail – remains irreplaceable. Yet, there’s still potential for gardening robotics to learn and evolve into these areas.  

Robot gardens

A newly designed, intelligent landscaping tool known as the ‘Yardroid’ is part of new generation in gardening and grounds maintenance.

The Yardroid is much more than a multipurpose garden robot designed to labour over a landscape, but a symbol of change that will soon sweep over the market.

The Yardroid may only be the beginning of a fully automated robotic gardening device, but it reflects an appetite for change that will use technology to replace many of the traditional, laborious roles of physical landscaping.

How Lawncare software is evolving

Technology is not only replacing the input of manual labour in gardening, but how it’s operated too. Using cloud software, technology is able to support gardening projects by handling administrative tasks. Everything from scheduling to production, lawncare software is another angle where technology is capable of inspiring landscaping and helping it involve into a more efficient process.

What’s Next for Landscaping?

Forecasting the future of landscaping, AI and other robotics will play a key role in solving existing problems, such as reinforcing sustainability efforts.

Here at Grounds Care Group, we embrace technology and use state of the art live reporting systems throughout our business. We know that AI holds many of the answers we need to inspire sustainable change and to function in a better, more balanced way with nature.

With experience and confidence in technology, our landscaping services covers all aspects of estate management, from lawn care to leaf clearance. Get in touch today to discuss your project with the experts. 

The post From Robots and Drones to Lawncare Software – Is this the Future of Landscaping? appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

Nationwide Gritting service UK Gritting says absolutely not! Even with warmer winters, you will still need to have a winter maintenance plan in place. The need for protection against legal claims for slips trips and falls will still be vital for any business that has premises used by customers, staff and visitors. 

 Climate Change Adaptation

In July 2019, the appearance of gritting lorries between sweltering traffic jams became a regular sight. On instruction from local council managers, the vehicles followed much the same road network routes at they would between November and March for salt spreading. Except this time they weren’t putting rock salt down, they were laying fine sand. Known as ‘dusting’, the technique is designed to ‘de-stick’ melting tarmac in 30 degree heat.  The alternative to not doing that is basically blobs of tarmac sticking to vehicle tyres, taking chunks of the road surface with it. It goes without saying, this is almost as unsafe and costly as it is to drive on as ice.  

Being able to adapt to the impacts of climate change is going to be critical for all business. So does that mean that UK Gritting is about to start ‘summer gritting’?

The short answer is no. We still anticipate plenty of need for winter gritting!

Despite road temperatures not dropping as low in the future, we still expect to regularly see temperatures drop to the freezing point of zero degrees in winter. That means freezing rain and dangerous black ice on the roads and that means hazards will still remain very real.   

Regardless of warmer winters overall, short sharp cold snaps are still going to be a part of the UK weather. Ice and snow means you’ll still need to plan ahead and be ready. A professional gritting company has access to the latest weather forecasting technology and monitor the weather daily. That means you’ll always be prepared for any eventuality and your business won’t be hindered by icy conditions.

That said, we’d be foolish not to account for the increased amount of water we’ll be dealing with. 

How Does Climate Change Affect Rainfall?

According to The Climate Change Committee, our weather systems are set to fundamentally change. 

This is largely thanks to the rising sea levels as a result of global warming. Increased temperatures caused by excess CO2 in the atmosphere, have meant that polar glaciers have begun to melt at an alarming rate. A process known as ‘the big thaw’.  

The once frozen ice, pours fresh water continually into the oceans causing sea levels to increase. To add to the mix, the temperature within the oceans has also risen, causing the water to expand. 

These warming oceans evaporate into the atmosphere, which alters the amount of water and energy in the air. It’s thought that the rise in temperature of the Atlantic Ocean is solely responsible for half of the wet season changes in the Amazon rainforest.   

But back to the UK. This wetter weather will almost certainly mean weather stations flagging more flooding in the UK during winter season. But what does it mean for our private and public roads and what does all this rain mean for gritting? 

The truth is, weather conditions in the UK will always be volatile. Businesses will still need winter maintenance contracts to ensure their business grounds are kept safe. The fact that it will still get cold enough for ice to form, means continued litigation and claims for slips trips and falls at work. 

As a business owner and facilities manager, it’s your responsibility to make sure your road surfaces, pavements and general site is as safe as reasonably possible. 

Find out more about how slips trips and falls can affect your workplace in our blog ‘Slips Trips and falls on your site – Risk assessment action for your business’.

Of course, climate change problems are set to challenge more than just gritting.

Anyone that has control over any green space is now encouraged to step up and maximise green infrastructure at every opportunity. That includes grounds maintenance companies like Grounds Care Group.

How Will Climate Change Affect Grounds Maintenance?

Water will be a big buzz word and not just because of floods. Along with the proliferate rainfall, we’ll suffer summer droughts too, which means water preservation will be paramount. Any company dealing with water should look for methods to reduce, reuse and recycle it wherever possible. 

As water becomes more of a precious commodity, we are likely to see environmental policies introduced. All companies are expected to take heed of the upcoming problems of water shortages.

The Royal Horticultural society report in 2017 ‘Gardening in a Changing Climate’ details how average UK temperature will continue to rise by as much as 2 degrees in the next century. In the south, weather is generally expected to get drier and hotter, whilst in the north it will become wetter.  

That means that anyone that owns or manages outdoor green space should already be taking steps to mitigate changes made by global warming.  

A perspicacious Grounds maintenance business will invariably be ready and prepared to adapt to these new regular conditions too. 

Part of those adaptations will be 

• A need for more weeding, mowing and pruning thanks to extended growing periods. 
• There will need to be more strategy about which plants to bed – those able to withstand extreme weather events will be preferred, along with those that can retain water. Likewise, the application of fertilisers will need to be timed exactly so as not to wash away in extra rainfall. 
• Water capture and storage will be paramount for times in the summer when there is expected to be more frequent hosepipe bans. Irrigation systems might become more of a regularity, bearing in mind costs of maintaining plants will be lower than frequent replanting. Contingency plans to bring water on site will need to be thought out and prepared. 
• Pest control is likely to be of higher priority. Warmer weather generally means a rise in the number of diseases and nuisance pests. 
• Soil health is critical for the future health of plants, crops and our planet. Biodiversity in the soil should be catered for by planting and leaving established plants well alone, rewilding where possible and reducing the use of pesticides and fertilisers overall. 

Read more about why soil health is so important in our blog ‘Why Healthy Soil is important for the landscape and the environment.

What’s Best Practice for Gritting Companies to be more Eco?

In terms of winter gritting, we may well get more used to the sight of a gritting lorry spreading sand for melting roads. But they won’t be able to stop salting, gritting and snow clearance. 

Like grounds management, we anticipate a more intensive approach to the environmental impact. From an environmentally friendly perspective, grit laying companies could be much more precise about salt quantities. We know that excess salt kills surrounding plant life. We also know that gritting salt can end up washing into waterways and affecting rivers, lakes and ponds, so it’s vital that it is carefully measured and not over used. 

UK Gritting is passionate about sustainability, just like our parent company Grounds Care Group. We already have a number of modern technologies in place that prevent wasting salt and unnecessary gritting. 

• Our cutting edge weather forecast technology helps us know exactly best times to begin the salt spread
• Our route planning strategy ensures we use as little fuel as possible
• We also only use marine salt, which is the most sustainable option 
• We’re investigating using beetroot as an eco-friendly alternative to brine.  

To learn more about how gritting can be more environmentally friendly, why not check out our blog ‘How Road Grit and Gritting can be Eco Too’.

Ultimately, we know that every one of us needs to tighten our belts and focus on waste reduction in every sense. 

Grounds Care Group and UK Gritting take the climate crisis seriously. From better water management, to planting wildflower meadows that help bee populations… From using less salt in our gritting techniques to advising customers on native more carbon capturing trees, we’re firmly focused on improving our green credentials at every opportunity. 

Green spaces are an investment, not just in your business premises looking pretty, but as an asset that contributes to a better, healthier planet. By changing the way we manage grounds maintenance (in whichever area), we have an opportunity to reduce any negative environmental impact. 

We highly recommend that, as grounds maintenance contractors, you allow us to help you audit your site to see where it might be possible to maximise green infrastructure. Any changes can be incorporated into your regular maintenance so that costs are kept down as green space help to contribute to your business eco conduct.

For a no obligation green survey or winter maintenance contract, why not pop us an email or call us. Our extensive offerings cover every aspect of grounds maintenance and we take great pride in developing exceptional and long-lasting business relationships with our customers! 

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