NOT SO MUCH A TURF WAR AS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLABORATION
BALI has recently been contacted The UK’s climate is changing. years (i.e. the most recent growing
by members concerning turf Within the cycles of seasonal cycle) has, at some point, been
availability and have received weather we are increasingly seeing drier than usual, hotter than usual,
reports of suppliers struggling to extremes of heat, cold, rain and colder than usual or wetter than
provide enough product for the sun throughout the year. Whereas usual – depending on the geographic
needs of the industry. Research by these extremes have previously led location of the grower.
BALI has revealed this is currently to minor disruptions which could a widespread issue and has resulted be absorbed by either suppliers or in restricted supplies to several contractors, the frequency of these contractors. episodes is increasingly affecting a
The effect of the weather on
stocks of turf has been twofold:
greater proportion of the industry. 1. It has presented growers with
Thanks to BALI’s diverse It is testament to the flexibility, significant challenges to ensure turf
membership, the association is able professionalism and ingenuity is growing adequately despite the
to liaise with members who both of the industry that some of the extremes of weather.
supply and use turf, learn from their issues have taken so long to surface experience and share information and cause an issue. Like all living 2. The conditions throughout
which provides a balanced summary products, turf is grown on a cycle of 2018 up to the present day have
of the situation. Predictably, there production. The length of this varies presented landscape contractors
isn’t a simple solution, and the between suppliers from less than with favourable conditions for
issue appears to have arisen as a 12 months to 2 years depending on laying turf and consequently a
consequence of several factors which composition of species, substrate sustained demand.
may continue for some time. It is and weather.
hoped that publishing this report
Whilst periods of warmer, wetter, drier
will lead to greater understanding The prevailing weather throughout or sunnier weather is not unusual, the
within the industry. the UK for large parts of the past cumulative effects of several extreme
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Landscape & Urban Design Issue 36 2019