"A Berkshire garden, which flows out across a steep escarpment into the treetops beyond, was the Supreme Winner in Pro Landscaper Magazine’s Small Project Big Impact awards 2022. Designed by Adam Vetere Landscape & Garden Design, the garden features a cantilevered deck, which appears to float across the 5m-high escarpment that cuts diagonally through the garden. The south-facing garden also features garrigue-style planting, with topiary for winter interest, in raised beds and a metal pergola to provide a shady eating area. Beyond this, steps lead down to the deck edged in Corten steel."
Feature compiled by Annie Gatti
Some are born into the industry. Others follow a more corporate path before transitioning into the world of landscaping later in life. For Adam Vetere, it’s a little of both.
Founder of his own company, Adam Vetere Landscape and Garden Design, Vetere says his career can be divided into three phases. “When I was growing up, my father ran a landscaping company,” he says. “While taking my O-levels and A-levels – studying graphic design and technical drawing – I designed gardens for him. He was fantastic at building gardens, but he couldn’t design them for toffee!”
Having helped his father build some of the gardens he had designed, Vetere gained a foothold in landscaping from a young age, garnering an early appreciation of key components such as drainage and soil. “I picked all of that up in the mid- to late-80s,” Vetere elaborates. “That was my grounding.”
Phase two saw Vetere take a completely different direction, heading into the world of corporate finance, where he remained for 28 years. He worked his way up from auditor/systems analyst at Ernst & Young in 1990 to Elliot Group’s global finance and commercial manager in 2015, yet landscaping was never far from his thoughts.
“Those roles allowed me to travel the world,” Vetere smiles. “I flew four or five times a month and visited gardens all over the world, from Japan and the Far East to the Americas and South Africa, and all over Europe. I built an understanding of plants, planting styles and landscape design in all four corners of the world.”
Equally pertinent – and something that perhaps made Vetere’s eventual return to landscaping almost inevitable – was his continued interest in garden design, even as a hobby. “In my spare time, I used to design gardens for my friends and family,” Vetere explains. “I did that while sitting on a plane, and I would incorporate a lot of what I saw on my trips. I found it relaxing.”
If you would like to read the rest of the article, take a look here.
Adam's winning Design, the Floating Deck
The winners have been revealed for Pro Landscaper’s small project BIG IMPACT Awards 2022, partnered with Provender Nurseries. The ceremony took place last night at FutureScape, the UK’s leading landscaping trade event which continues today at the ExCeL London.
Nine category winners were announced, including for two new categories for this year: International Garden Under £35,000 and Best Use of Technology Under £20k.
The ultimate award of Supreme Winner went to The Floating Deck by Adam Vetere Landscape and Garden Design, which judges called: “A fantastic response to a significant problem bringing the garden into use and removing the safety concerns. High quality finish to all aspects of the project.”
Pro Landscaper’s Joe Wilkinson says: “It’s fair to say that the quality of entries has increased again this year, which is a testament echoed by this year’s judges.
“Each year, we showcase these schemes on the lower end of the value scale. These projects show a skill and creativity that is often trickier to execute due to budget restrictions, time pressures and rising material costs, but the technical ability always comes to the fore.”
This year’s awards were judged by some of the leading names across the industry: expert witness Gareth Wilson, Mark Draper of Graduate Gardeners, garden designer Helen Elks-Smith, Liz Hughes of Provender Nurseries, Lewis Normand of Bernhard’s Nurseries, James Scott of The Garden Company, Alistair Bayford of Maylim, Brian Herbert of Outdoor Options, and Pro Landscaper’s own Lisa Wilkinson.
Richard McKenna, managing director of awards partner Provender Nurseries, says: “Provender Nurseries is delighted to sponsor Pro Landscaper’s small project BIG IMPACT Awards this year. It is an excellent opportunity for companies that often work under the £35k threshold to highlight and celebrate their work in these prestigious awards.
“We feel that raising the profile of this size of project is important to both established and new, upcoming businesses in the landscape, design and horticultural industry as a whole.”
A special thanks to our partners Provender Nurseries, Medite Smartply, Stone Warehouse, Adtrak, Re-flow Field Management, Westminister Stone, Van den Berk Nurseries, Readyhedge, CTD and Palmstead.
Pro Landscaper Business Awards Newsletter, 'Winners announced for Pro Landscaper’s small project BIG IMPACT Awards 2022', www.prolandscapermagazine.com
Adam's project, the Treetop Garden
Pro Landscaper speaks with the Supreme Winner of Pro Landscaper’s small project BIG IMPACT Awards 2022, Adam Vetere from Adam Vetere Landscape and Garden Designs.
Adam Vetere is over the moon. “It’s difficult to put in words: it’s elation, it’s joy, it’s the recognition,” says Vetere, whose company scooped the title of Supreme Winner for it’s submission The Floating Deck at Pro Landscaper’s small project BIG IMPACT Awards this year. “Being recognised in the industry by your judging panel, it’s a real feather in the cap and it’s good for my business.
“As a collaboration with the contractor, which was really important, and for both of us to be there to receive the award, it really is a really special feeling.”
The inspiration behind The Floating Deck was sparked by the client’s love of the Rocky Mountains. “The actual design of the garden and the geometry of the garden was based on the silhouette of the peaks of the Rocky Mountains. So, when you took that vertically and transposed it horizontally, that gave you the shape and the geometry of the garden.”
If you would like to read the rest of the article, take a look here.
Jessica Dean-Hill, 9 December 2022, 'In conversation with Adam Vetere', https://www.prolandscapermagazine.com/in-conversation-with-adam-vetere
Deemed the UK’s most skilled students and apprentices, they will compete against one another to construct the final design in 16.5 hours, over two days. Competitors who impress could also be in with a chance of representing the UK at the ‘Skills Olympics’ in France in 2024.
‘We are an independent charity and a partnership between employers, education, and governments. Together, we are using international best practice to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education so more young people and employers succeed.’
As APL Designer of the Year, I was asked by the Association of Professional Landscapers to design the scheme for the final. The 12m2 design has a focus on sustainability and features a rain garden and permeable paving.
The finalists recently participated in a two-day training session at Myerscough College, Preston. Mark Youde, Director of The Landscape Company, delivered sessions that covered the whole build of the project, so the competitors could learn first-hand what will be expected of them and how best to schedule their works at the finals.
The design scheme will test the finalists’ skills in different elements of landscape construction -timber construction, walls, water features, paving, varying levels, and planting.
I am very proud to be involved in supporting these young people in their training and pursuit of gaining high quality skills, which will give them the very best start in their chosen career paths.
I wish all the finalists the very best of luck!
The Awards Ceremony will be hosted at Futurescape in November 2022, at ExCel London.
Read on to find out more about both categories:
Client Brief:
The clients wanted a complete redesign of a part of their sloping aspect garden, which had been a traditional cottage garden with herbaceous, perennial planting for many years.
Having recently constructed a new garage/garden workshop, which linked to the main house by means of a ‘wraparound’ portico, they wanted a contemporary courtyard design for the garden. Importantly, it had to be sustainable in terms of both the materials and plants chosen. The building materials should be hardwearing with a long-life expectancy and sourced locally and/or from the UK. The planting should be lower maintenance and drought tolerant where possible to limit water usage. It should also positively add to the biodiversity and ecology of the remainder of the site.
The newly designed courtyard would be used for relaxing in for most of the day and for entertaining family and friends. Its east/south aspect also allows the space to be used for much of the year, so year-round interest was also imperative. There should be flexible zones for cooking, dining and seating. The clients also wanted a small water feature, so they could enjoy the sound of water while using the space. They were keen to salvage most of the herbaceous, perennial planting, relocating it elsewhere within the site.
Soft Landscaping:
At the heart of the design is the drought tolerant planting scheme which was developed for the site’s very warm micro-climate and as a path finder for the larger warming climate which we are now all experiencing. The scheme itself would need to be watered in the first spring/summer after planting (Dec2021/Jan2022), but thereafter would need minimal watering, if any in the future.
The scheme would also encourage and improve the biodiversity of the site using insect lovers such as Salvias and Echinacea.
The scheme featured three main schemes which were all blended seamlessly throughout the garden:
Hard Landscaping:
The hard landscaping is rectilinear in design to reconcile with the existing wraparound portico and the sloping nature of the site. The porcelain was selected to match with the clients existing tiles.
A series of multi-level planters were constructed to create a dynamic energy and movement within the space. They would allow for the free draining qualities which the drought tolerant plants would require in the winter months. They would also house two specimen ancient olive trees.
The planters/terraces would conceal the seating and dining areas, adding interest and intrigue to the space. They would also map out several routes through the garden, seamlessly linking into the existing garden to the east and south.
The planters themselves were constructed from UK sourced, hot rolled steel- sealed on the inside and allowed to oxidise on the outside to create a stunning patina. Six large 500kg boulders and many smaller rocks were used to break the geometry of the design, with the steel being cut into and/or profiled around them – a wonderful detail. The oxidised steel contrasts beautifully with the greys, pinks and calcite formations of the locally sourced limestone boulders.
The areas to the west and north under the portico allowed for seating and dining areas, coupled with access points from the house to the new garage and workshop. The raised, hard-landscaped area to the north created a wonderful vantage point for an outdoor sofa and tremendous views over the new garden.
Through the centre of the garden a gravel area with two large planters and a water table dominates. Several steps were cut into this area, bringing the clients and their visitors down to the same level as the rest of the garden.
Client Feedback:
‘We are absolutely delighted with our new, contemporary courtyard garden. It more than exceeds our expectations in terms of meeting the Client Brief. We love the interconnecting, terraced, mild steel retained planting beds and the way in which the naturalistic rock boulders ‘muscle their way’ through the sharp geometry of the steel. Not only are they beautiful, complementing the architectural forms of the courtyard planting, but they are practical too. Vantage seating points from which to sit and savour a morning coffee or a glass of wine and enjoy the delights of this tranquil space.
The planting scheme is stunning and ticks many boxes in terms of sustainability, biodiversity and maintenance. We are looking forward to enjoying what it has to offer architecturally for the entire year. Whilst we liked our traditional cottage garden planting, it did not provide enough year-round interest, especially in the late-Autumn/Winter months.
The quality of our contractor’s workmanship was exceptional for the entire build, particularly the attention to detail. For example, where the sculptural rock boulders ‘muscle their way’ through the steel, the accuracy of all the terraced levels and matching/extending the porcelain paved zones beyond the existing paving under the portico. Justin and his team took great pride in all their work, and they should be very proud of their achievements. They were very professional, reliable, trustworthy, and approachable throughout the entire works in progress. They succeeded in turning our designer’s vision into a reality.
We cannot wait to share our courtyard garden with our family and friends throughout the year. It is a wonderfully relaxing, intimate, tranquil space for us to enjoy as a couple, whilst offering the flexibility of being an exciting, engaging, entertaining space to enjoy with others’.
Client Brief:
The clients wanted a complete re-design of their rear garden. Their property, a modern, family, detached house, has a relatively large plot. A challenging escarpment (5m tall), running diagonally through the garden, falls within the property's curtilage. The elevated aspect of the garden allows for stunning views across the valley and into the canopy of neighbouring trees. However, the structural challenge of the escarpment means that the clients are unable to use a major part of the garden (60%), because it is dangerous and inaccessible.
If budget were no issue, the site could be multi-terraced but the cost and engineering of such a proposal would be far too expensive. The budget has been set at £55k. Therefore, a sunken, cantilevered floating deck extending over the edge of the escarpment, will be a core design feature of the garden. It will provide them with the space they want for dining, entertaining and relaxing outside as a family. It will appear to float in the surrounding tree canopy, as the surrounding trees are some 5-6m below the level of the usable garden, extending out over the escarpment.
The design should fully consider the surroundings - the woods to the west and south, the lack of privacy from the neighbours' properties to the east, the underlying conditions of the site (potentially made-up ground) and the challenge of the escarpment
Challenges Faced On-Site:
The escarpment cut through the garden and dropped over 5m from the top to the bottom within a 4-5m zone, making the gradient a 1:1. It was therefore dangerous and inaccessible, overgrown, an eyesore and most importantly – wasted space.
The flat area of the garden was also an issue, as the ground was artificially raised by the original house builder to create a basic usable space, but it meant that any structure installed would need to find virgin ground to ensure it was safe.
A further challenge was that the escarpment was classified as an area of identified biodiversity interest by the local planning department, so we had to ensure that any landscaping in this area did not interfere with the biodiversity of the site.
The construction of the deck would be extremely difficult, as there could be no supports for it within the escarpment area because of the slope and the planning restriction. As such a cantilevered design was developed, with the footings and structural support being placed in the level area of the garden, allowing the deck to float over the edge of the escarpment. Equally, the design pushed this floating element of the deck a further 2m over the edge of the escarpment.
Materials Selected:
The deck was designed as a cantilever construction, appearing to float out across the escarpment, so the engineering of the design and materials used were extremely important. No supports could be used on the escarpment, so the structural integrity of the deck was paramount – all of the supporting structure would be anchored into the ground within the level area of the garden.
The deck was structurally engineered by HLN and they provided the cross section which detailed the depth and scale of the footings, steel work needed and the fixings to be used.
Three strip foundations were formed, running longitudinally under the deck with I beams (203 x 133mm) secured to them using M16 grade 8.8 bolts at 300mm intervals. A further beam would run across the end of the tree beams to close off the support structure.
150 x 50mm treated joists would be fixed to the beams with a further 100 x 50mm joist structure being secured to the timber below. The top of the timber would be covered with a Trex Protect Joist and Bearer Tape to ensure the timber longevity of at least 25 years. The joists were designed not to meet any surface which would capture sitting water, thus eliminating any rotting of the timbers.
The entire structure was designed with a 1:80 gradient which allowed any rainwater to flow into the escarpment and away from the structure. Additional French drainage was installed under the structure too.
176 x 32mm Millboard composite decking was fixed to the timber structure. Black powder coated aluminium railings which complied with building regulations were fitted to the exposed end of the deck.
The deck itself covered 17m2 and the area which extended over the escarpment added a further 6.5m2 to the clients’ usable space, which allowed for additional seating and dining.
The deck was sunk into the existing level ground by 300 - 400mm, which allowed for the seating area to be screened from the neighbours by the new pergola and multi-stemmed trees.
Within the deck, an integrated water feature was designed to add interest with three copper outlets flowing into a reservoir beneath the deck – it was positioned at the back of the deck to be enjoyed from either the dining terrace or from the seating areas over the escarpment.
The clients were absolutely thrilled with ‘The Floating Deck’, which met a tough brief on a very unusual site.
Client Feedback:
‘Adam has designed a beautiful garden for us, which was constructed by Justin and his team from JJH Landscapes. We have been so impressed with Adam throughout the design process - his design is perfect for our very unusual site, and he listened to all our requirements throughout. He has done far more than we would have expected in supporting us through the planning application process. We are so happy with the garden he has created, especially the Floating Deck!’
Adam Vetere’s design transformed our garden from a wild, overgrown space into a beautiful contemporary garden. Adam introduced us to TS Landcapes and together they have created stunning features which retain the garden’s original character, whilst introducing innovative new designs.
Rachel and Steve
I have always loved the tranquility and eternal nature of traditional Japanese gardens, so was delighted when Adam agreed to bring a little bit of Japan to my little bit of Berkshire.
The design evolved with much arm-waving and looking at many photographs from many books. It needed to incorporate a collection of toro (Japanese stone lanterns) and my favourite rocks recycled from previous gardens, a watering system and lighting for night-time viewing of the garden.
What Adam came up with was deceptively simple but there is interest everywhere you look in the sculptural plants and cloud-pruned trees, the yin-yang of weathered granite stepping stones set against smooth almost-white patio tiles, and the classic grouping of a toro overlooking a reflective pool.
The hard landscaping was done by JJH Landscapes and it was obvious from Adam's regular site visits that they knew each other well, so the whole process was as smooth as construction work can be.
Now that I have my own beautiful little corner of Japan to enjoy, it's almost a shame that I don't have another garden for Adam to design.
Victoria
Adam did an amazing job when designing my 100 sqm roof terrace. He was professional, courteous and efficient throughout the process, and his design exceeded my expectations in every respect. The greatest hurdle to overcome with designing a roof terrace is to work within considerable weight limitations and yet to still come up with a pleasing result and make it all look effortless. Adam achieved all that and I could not be more happy with the results. Working with Adam on this project was a pleasure. He was always available and helpful on the phone or by email when I had a query … not a ‘given’ these days. I can highly recommend Adam.
Christina
From the outset, working with Adam has been an absolute pleasure. He listened to my ramblings, asked me insightful questions and managed to capture every nuance of those conversations.
The end result is beyond anything I could have imagined and is the essence of everything I had hoped for. The garden entices me in and indeed commands my attention, but the focal point is the pergola; its bold, structural form is the perfect foil for the lush, architectural planting and the natural elements which surround it. It is stunning - as soon as I saw the design, I knew I had to have it in my garden.
I’m now looking forward to watching it develop into an even more beautiful space to share and enjoy with family and friends.
Tana Travers
Adam has designed the most beautiful garden for us, which was implemented and finalised in September 2023. I was really impressed by Adam’s design process, details attention and professionalism. He managed to transform a very awkward shaped garden into the angled garden, which captured all that we asked for on day one. I would highly recommend Adam.
Anna
From the beginning to the end of my garden project it has been a pleasure to work with Adam. Adam laid out the process very clearly so I knew my options and we agreed a brief. Having been invited to see his own garden I knew I could trust his judgement and I wasn’t disappointed when he talked me through the design idea. He had designed a garden that fitted the features of the house as well as my own artist style which made it extra special; incorporating my fused glass was an unexpected chance to put my own stamp on the garden. Adam project managed the whole process brilliantly too. The planting has amazing combinations of plants in textures, scents and colours, many of which I had not been familiar with. With a plant list and maintenance instructions I feel equipped to help his vision develop as the months go by. Every day I look forward to seeing what new delights the garden offers. A patch of grass has been turned into a beautiful garden and a space to enjoy all through the year.
Jean Thomas
First met Adam at his garden while on a group visit. I was instantly impressed with him and his eye for detail. Sometime later I asked him if he would come up with a design for a patio area with a couple or raised beds. We discussed some very basic requirements and Adam presented several options, all which had merit but one fitted our requirements exactly. Adam is always keen to offer advice regarding landscaping and choice of plants. I would highly recommend him and would certainly contact him again for any future projects.
Graham Powell
Adam has been excellent in his approach to our garden design, he has captured all our views and designed a garden so all children especially special needs children can access the garden like their friends. He has been very approachable and very sensitive to the project, and has looked at all access.
I can't recommend Adam enough in his design, approach and more importantly kindness.
Sabrina Merritt
Through every stage from the initial planning to the implementation Adam and his team provided the highest level of service. The design reflected both Adam's ideas and our own contributions ensuring that our objectives were achieved. All the work was carried out on the specified dates, in a non-intrusive way, and an excellent dialogue ensured that we were kept fully up-to-date with progress. Despite difficult weather at the time the work was completed absolutely to schedule, and already it is clear that Adam will provide follow-up and advice when needed. Interaction with the team was pleasant and everyone worked in a very tidy and organised way. We would have no hesitation in recommending this company.
John Spinks
We are eternally grateful to Adam, who came to the rescue on our new build landscaping project, creating an innovative contemporary garden design to maximise the views from our difficult sloping site and reflect the contours of the surrounding landscape. In addition to his obvious expertise, Adam has shown great flexibility in dealing with our difficult deadlines and liaising with the builders and architect. We felt that Adam really understood us as people and incorporated this, helping us design not just the garden but our whole outside entertaining space. Adam's detailed presentation helped us understand how the garden will look across the seasons - we can’t wait to see the finished planting. I can't recommend Adam highly enough - Thanks Adam.
Zoe Taylor
We asked Adam to help us with a design for our long but quite narrow garden that had been neglected for a number of years. We had a few ideas and knew what we wanted to include in the finished garden, and Adam's final design ticked all the boxes! He was friendly, helpful and extremely knowledgeable and we would highly recommend his services. We felt he really took on board what we were hoping for and his attention to detail was excellent, the extremely professional final presentation was easy to understand and looked fab! Thanks for all your help Adam!
Elizabeth Davis
I would like to shout from the hill tops about Adam and Katherine, they have worked together on designing our amazing magical garden for our early years children with multiple needs. They have embraced all our individual children, parents and their needs for fun, play and learning, through a garden of excitement. Their approach to working with us as a service has been outstanding. Thank you for all your support!
Ann-Marie Boxall – KIDS
Adam is dedicated to providing the best and most fitting garden experience to the most demanding of customers. His thoughtful accommodating and unique approach is second to none.
He is certainly far above the average garden architect - give the guy a chance. You will not regret it.
Clive McArdle
Adam has been amazing in his wonderful, caring and delicate approach to our garden design, he has captured all our ideas and visions for our children with disabilities. He has worked endlessly to get the vision right for all our children, so they can have a safe, but wonderful experience of being in a garden. I thank you from all our families/children, and most importantly my team who will love it... Thank you.
Jane Woodhouse
We would like to thank you for designing and transforming our run down vegetable garden and situating the glasshouse in its midst. We have appreciated your input and greatly valued your guidance.
Olga Barber