LATEST NEWS
UPM Tilhill scoops BALI National Landscape Awards
UPM Tilhill, the UK\'s leading landscaping, arboriculture and environmental works company, scooped two awards at the BALI National Landscape Awards ceremony which took place on Friday 5th December at Grosvenor House Hotel, London.
UPM Tilhill’s Midlands District won the National Monument Special Award for its role in creating the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas in Staffordshire; and the company’s North West England District won in the \'Land Renewal and Regeneration\' category for its renovation and regeneration work in the Pennine village of Nenthead.
Peter Middleton, Commercial Director, UPM Tilhill who attended the Awards said:
“I am delighted that the quality of our landscaping service has been so prominently recognised by BALI through these awards. Both projects are shining examples of the high standards of work our landscaping teams are consistently undertaking across the UK. Well done to our Midlands and North West England teams for their outstanding work.”
The Armed Forces Memorial is the first national memorial dedicated to the men and women of the United Kingdom Armed Forces killed on duty or as a result of terrorist action since the Second World War. Designed by Liam O\\\'Connor Architects, it conceives of the landscape setting as an integral part of the memorial. The design invites visitors to walk along a slowly ascending spiral path lined with evergreen oak trees as they make their way towards the Portland stone structure which lies at the heart of the composition and is engraved with 16,000 names. UPM Tilhill was awarded the £200,000 landscaping contract from Osborne.
"Congratulations to UPM Tilhill," said Paul Holmes, Osborne Site Manager. "The landscaping team successfully overcame the challenges faced by a demanding and precise brief. The result is a stunning memorial that unites the landscape and sculptural elements to powerful effect."
Renovation and regeneration of the remote Pennine village of Nenthead was undertaken by UPM Tilhill’s North West England District on behalf of Cumbria County Council. Work involved the landscaping of three sites across the village: a recycling centre; a children\'s play area; and a picnic site.
Nenthead and the nearby market town of Alston have traditionally used local materials in their construction and UPM Tilhill was able to ensure all materials used in the project were sourced locally. The natural stone was supplied from a quarry just three miles away, plants were sourced from a local nursery and even the recycling bins were manufactured by a Cumbrian supplier. Local craftsmen skilled in dry stone wall construction were employed to ensure the new works were sympathetic to their surroundings
"Congratulations to UPM Tilhill," said Richard Moore of Cumbria County Council’s Economic Development Unit. "The team’s commitment to using local materials and employing local craftsmen has really paid off. The project demonstrates how regeneration projects like this bring benefits all round - boosting the local economy, enhancing the village landscape and improving the day to day lives of local people. It is a testimony to the skill and quality of service provided by UPM Tilhill, who have done themselves, the designers and community proud."
The annual BALI National Landscape Awards showcase the high levels of professionalism attained by members of the British Association of Landscape Industries.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors
For further information please contact:
Ruth Roy
01892 861008/07771 940494
ruth.roy@upm-kymmene.com
The BALI Awards - recognise and celebrate good landscaping practice. The awards showcase the talent and high standards reached by BALI members, who go through a vetting process to join the organisation.
Recognised as the premier industry awards, they reward those BALI members who have demonstrated exceptional standards of workmanship and professionalism. An independent panel of judges visits each shortlisted entry to assess a range of criteria, including the complexity of the scheme, the contractor’s response to, and interpretation of, the design, and the consistent use of superior materials.
Special Awards aim to acknowledge particular skills demonstrated in the construction of a scheme or the attention paid to the end requirements of a scheme, which are not honoured elsewhere in the Award categories.
The Armed Forces Memorial: UPM Tilhill’s Midland District began work in July 2007 with the topsoiling of the six metre high mound and shaping of the embankments – a major part of the project. Some 1,800 tons of top soil was supplied to the site which was moved with three ton dumpers as bigger plant would not have fitted along the path. This was then laid down with a 5 ton mini excavator and hand raked to the final shape
The greatest challenge lay in the precise planting of 57 four-metre tall, shaped evergreen oaks (Quercus Ilex) in 500 litre containers – each tree valued at £2,500. Standard pneumatic breakers failed to cope with the demands of driving three anchors per tree into the sub-soil medium of crushed brick. The team overcame the difficulties this presented by adapting a power drive bar fixed onto a pneumatic breaker which was itself fitted onto a 360 degree excavator. Due to restrictions on the use of pathways a crane was then used to lift each tree into place.
Soft landscaping was completed by the laying of 9,000 square metres of turf. Work was completed to schedule for an official opening by Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on 12 October 2007.
Nenthead - renovation and regeneration: Work began with the preparation of the main site, a former lead processing plant. UPM Tilhill needed to excavate the site to road level then lay a permeable membrane across the whole site before reinstatement works could begin. To create areas for grass and planting the site was surrounded by block stone creating enclosures into which topsoil was imported. Installation of these 4-5 tonne stones was completed with a 20 tonne excavator utilising a hydraulic grab. A total of 350 tonnes of block stone was installed at these sites.
At the recycling centre minor civil engineering works were undertaken to create a 42m3 pad of steel reinforced concrete to support vehicles emptying the collection banks. For visitors, a circular natural stone seat was constructed featuring twin monoliths bearing plaques detailing the village\\\'s history
At the picnic site and the area surrounding the playground new walls were built, fencing installed and flag stones laid. Local craftsmen skilled in dry stone wall construction were employed to ensure the new works were sympathetic to their surroundings. A total of 110 linear metres of walling were created, or rebuilt as part of the scheme – all complimenting the existing local stonework.
UPM Tilhill is the UK\\\'s leading landscaping, arboriculture and environmental works company. The company provides a full range of consultancy and contracting services to civil engineers, developers, landscape architects and local authorities as well as landowners. The company is a member of BALI and is registered with Construction Line, Achilles and Link-up, and has a CSCS Gold Standard Certificate.