Providing your Landscape Solutions in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

Pocket Park Update

 
Phase two of the works at Pocket Park in Ely
have been carried out over the last couple of
months on behalf of East Cambridgeshire
District Council. The work involves extending the
existing pathway by some 400m through the
excavation and safe disposal of contaminated
soil, installation of Marshalls Conservation
edging, and surfacing with Tarmac Mastertint. The 2m wide pathway will blend in to the existing landscape smoothly, and will allow all park users, including wheelchairs and buggies, to access the whole circumference of the park all year round.

Work is also well underway on one of our biggest hard landscaping projects to date, working with Norwich City Council to revitalise St Clements Park. Major earthworks and hard landscaping is almost complete on this site which began as a blank canvas, and now boasts an array of play equipment including a "Cone Climber" and bark pits. When the new park opens in the Spring the installation of Breedon Gravel pathways will make it fully accessible so the entire local community can enjoy the 29,000 flowering bulbs planted by the CGM team back in November.

CGM saves Norwich Castle!

The talented team of CGM specialists have recently completed an important stabilisation project on one of Norfolk's most well-known historical monuments. The erosion repair and control scheme was completed on the Norwich Castle Mound, on behalf of Norwich City Council.

The erosion of the ground surrounding the Grade 1 listed monument began when paths and trees were removed, and the process was hastened by heavy rainfall and some very industrious rabbits which threatened to undermine the safety of the site.

Three members of the CGM team spent six weeks dangling from harnesses using hand tools to delicately excavate and restore scarred areas of the mound. The final stage of hydro-seeding with a special blend of grass seed and mulch was completed in Spring 2010.

Arboricultural Association Approval

Following a rigourous inspection and assessment by the Arboricultural Association, Country Grounds Maintenance (CGM) is delighted to announce that it has become an approved tree work contractor. Meeting the 65 detailed criteria points covering 4 key areas, including i) work standards and tree knowledge, ii) health / safety and competent working practices, iii) office procedures, and iv) good customer care practices, the accreditation really does test all aspects of a tree-care businesses' operation and management, And, most importantly, it tests the business at the ‘sharp end’ by visiting worksites rather than just being office and paperwork based (although this is integral to the accreditation.) The scheme, which has recently benefited from an opportunity to dual-accredit tree surgery contractors with CHAS, has gained increased recognition at a national level and regularly promotes alongside the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH) at both regional and national events.

Speaking, Paul Smith (ArbAC Manager & Technical Officer), said: “Achievement of the accreditation takes considerable time and commitment, along with a significant financial investment, and demonstrates a business is keen to improve and progress by meeting national standards, and, effectively, agreeing to a programme of continuous improvement. It is unfortunate that in an industry which has more than its fair share of ‘less scrupulous’ contractors, often price is the only determining factor for many clients with quality, and ‘best value’, being overlooked. This is a short sighted approach and often trees are damaged irreparably and future expensive remedial works are then required, a situation which could easily be avoided by engaging an ‘ArbAC’ to undertake the work.”

Chris Smith, Arboricultural Manager for CGM said: “Becoming an ARB approved contractor was a goal we set ourselves 18 months ago and it has taken hard work and dedication from management through to the operatives to attain this high standard. We are constantly looking to improve as a business to provide our customers with the highest quality of service at a competitive rate.”