Landscape & Urban Design Issue 39 2019 | Page 17

TURF MANAGEMENT SOILSCON 2019 – BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Sarah Morgan, Sarah Morgan Gardens “Another fantastic day of and Chair of the Society of Garden presentations, good range of talks, Designers variety and good length. Excellent Tim White, Senior Associate, Tim facilities and refreshments” O’Hare Associates “I found the day to be very informative Andy Spetch, National TOPSOIL – fantastic eclectic group of talks and Manager, British Sugar TOPSOIL topics” Catherine Dawson, Technical Director, “I really enjoyed the day, the venue, Date: Thursday, 26th September 2019 Melcourt Industries Location: Phyllis Court, Henley on Director, Wildflower Turf Cost: £90 + VAT (LI/BALI/SGD Their presentations will cover: Time: 9.00 to 16.30 Thames, Oxon RG9 2HT members) or £110 + VAT (non- members) Since the inaugural SoilsCon event in October 2015, and after a break in 2018, the ‘must attend’ landscape industry’s soils conference will take place this year on Thursday, 26th September, again at the elegant Phyllis Court in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. This year’s event will be the fourth soils conference to be organised by soil scientist and landscape consultant Tim O’Hare of BALI Affiliate member Tim O’Hare Associates. Utilising James Hewetson-Brown, Managing • The soils project planning cycle that every landscape and construction professional should follow • Reversing the current crisis in soil health by using soils sustainably • Establishing low fertility habitats, referencing low phosphorous soils in Australia • Using knowledge of soils and geology to inform better garden design • Problems with soils on new housing developments and how to avoid them • Conditioning manufactured topsoil the extremely helpful and positive to achieve landscaping project feedback from delegates who attended success the previous conferences, SoilsCon 2019 has been designed to give landscape architects, contractors, garden designers, developers, topsoil manufacturers and other industry professionals another packed day of invaluable professional development, discussion and networking, with presentations by some of the leading experts in their respective fields from the UK and overseas. Speaking this year are: Tim O’Hare, Principal, Tim O’Hare Associates Neville Fay, Founder and Director, Sustainable Soils Alliance Simon Leake, Managing Director, SESL Australia • The correct use and specification of bark mulches / products for different landscape applications • The benefits of wildflowers in landscape, their applications and the practicalities of establishment and maintenance The popular Soil Surgery, where members of the Tim O’Hare Associates team are on hand to help delegates with their specific soil issues, will be held during the day’s networking periods. Comments from delegates at the last SoilsCon, held in 2017, include: “Excellent day; very informative presentations, and accessible to a range of attendees and backgrounds” the presentation lengths, the information pack, and have learnt more than I imagined” “Excellent conference, brilliant variety of talks” “Wasn’t sure what to expect but very informative and thoroughly fascinating!” “The conference met all my expectations. Very helpful and well organised. Thank you” Commenting on this year’s conference, organiser Tim O’Hare said: “We’re back by popular demand! We decided to give people a break last year but such was the demand for SoilsCon to return, and with so many topical issues to bring to colleagues’ attention, we couldn’t lose the opportunity to re-establish the conference on the industry calendar. We have great speakers again this year and I’m very much looking forward to seeing many colleagues and clients in Henley on 26th September. They won’t be disappointed.” BALI, LI and SGD members can obtain a special delegate rate of £90 + VAT per person (non-members £110 + VAT). Lunch and refreshments will be provided throughout the day Spaces are limited to 150 so book early to avoid disappointment. Phyllis Court has excellent transport links by road (M40, M4) and rail, with collection from Henley railway station available on the day. For full programme details and to book online visit toha.co.uk.