Nature’s Architects Podcast

Hello and welcome to 'Nature's Architects', you’re in the right place if you want to understand more about the interaction between the natural and built environments.

We're going to chatting some really interesting industry experts from the housing developers, planning consultant, architects, landscape architects and environmental sector consultants, plus most importantly hearing from what the next generation think and want.

So you’re in the right place if you want to understand more about how to create great place and space and what it requires from us to act as Nature's Architects.

 

We all know the impact of green space has been on our mental health particularly in the last 15 months and how much we appreciate it due to the pandemic, but how important is it to our actual health and psychology!

Dr Liz Sparkes personal friend and expert in heart-based meditation  and compassion practices, a health and spiritual coach.  She is a real-life Doctor with PhD is in pain psychology and has extensively explored ways to change the experience of pain on world meditation day.

We cover so many topics in such a short amount of time so I hope you all enjoy this one. I  learnt a lot. So grab a quiet spot and enjoy listening to Dr Liz Sparkes, if you find this as interesting as we did you'll probably want to implement this into your business.

Liz is an amazing practitioner and is the director of a great company which is simply Dr Liz Sparkes. Her training sessions, courses and training are all around heart-based living. Coaching sessions support you to move forward, towards personal growth and change. 

We have a great chat about mental health, mindset and the impact that green space has on all of this. Liz is a firm believer in meditation and what we do plus the impact it can have on teams and team building. So if you want to book a session with her after listening to the podcast or want to chat with her visit her website https://www.drlizsparkes.com/

We  try to cover a wide topic base including:

  • How has the business developed;

  • which is mindfulness and compassion;

  • how can you implement meditation within your own business;

  • being grateful for your teams;

  • the importance of green space to mental health;

We will end with:

  • what does great look like in relation to mental health and green infrastructure


Find out more about we can help you secure the relationship between the natural and built environments and ultimately increase the value of your site at https://www.wnic.co.uk/.

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Ben and I met at Myerscough College in 2000 and since studying our careers have gone in two different directions but what we have both achieved is both managing successful companies while  doing what we love, and that is working with trees!

We cover so many topics in such a short amount of time so I hope you all enjoy this one. I  learnt a lot. So grab a drink and enjoy listening to Ben Southall.

Ben Southall is the director of TreeTech Arboricultural Services and one of the best contractors in the country. Ben and Lou have taken the company from a one crew team to now employing a team of 10 people and successfully passing and retaining the highest standards in contracting being an Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor. Ben loves big machinery and climbing and although these day he is mainly directing the business,  when he does get the opportunity he says he loves getting back on the tools and climbing.  Ben and Lou drive a passion for high standards and safe working practices and both enthusiasts within the industry. Follow their amazing team on Instagram

This discussion goes in a great direction and if you are in a family run business, looking at succession in it, or simply want to understand more about business management, this is the podcast for you. Clearly arboriculture and running businesses is so intertwined in their lives and seeing the success of their teams. If you want a career in arboriculture whether it be contracting or consultancy then listen and enjoy.

We  try to cover a wide topic base including:

  • How has the business developed;

  • what does a standard day look like;

  • what their plans are;

  • succession planning:

  • being grateful for your teams;

  • career paths through the industry;

  • what is the future for the industry.

We will end with:

  • what do they look for in new team members

  • what is the biggest challenge for the industry


Find out more about we can help you secure the relationship between the natural and built environments and ultimately increase the value of your site at https://www.wnic.co.uk/.

Follow us on social media:

This week we chat with my old line manager and now the Acting Assistant Director of Planning at Birmingham City Council, a true brummie, born and raised in Birmingham and now taking the City to 2040 with its new plan. Simon is a a real character and enthusiast within the urban design world and someone who truly has a passion for promoting a completely holistic approach to urban design and place making, which is designed and developed to provide many multifunctional purposes. So welcome to Simon Delahunty-Forrest

We could talk about so many things, but in this podcast we chat about Birmingham achieving its 2040 plan ‘Our Future City Plan – Central Birmingham 2040’ to deliver six key themes:

  1. City of centres

  2. Growth for all

  3. City of nature

  4. City of layers

  5. City of connections

  6. City of knowledge and innovation

 Nature’s Architects - #12. Sally Hayns of CIEEM - Let's Chat About Fair Pay

This week we have another collaborative podcast and the reason why this series was developed. I'm really pleased to have managed to get 30 minutes of Sally Hayns time. She is the current Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management and is really passionate about the natural environment. 

We’re going to be looking at, how we as professionals can actively promote green infrastructure and the built environment, its importance to how we live, work and play and what steps the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management (CIEEM) are taking to address a major issue of fair-pay to more junior members of the industry and to get away from the whole issue of earning colours by doing loads of voluntary work.

 Nature’s Architects - #11. Dr Wei Yang, President of the RTPI

This week we have a real collaborative podcast and the reason why this series was developed. I'm really pleased to have managed to get 30 minutes of Dr Wei Yang's time. She is the current President of the Royal Town Planning Institute and is really passionate about the natural environment and bringing her experience of garden towns and cities into everyday planning. 

We’re going to be looking at, how we as professionals can actively promote green infrastructure and the built environment, its importance to how we live, work and play and what steps the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) are taking to inspire a different way of thinking not just on new development projects but also within the existing urban environments.

 Nature’s Architects - #10 Biodiversity net gain with a couple of experts

This week we chat with the Principal Advisor on Net Gain to Natural England and champion of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and our very own in-house Senior Ecologist and expert on BNG. So welcome to Nick White of Natural England and Matt Wall of Wharton Natural Infrastructure Consultants.

We’re going to be looking at biodiversity net gain in detail and how it can be implemented effectively on individual development sites of all scales and then what the joined up approach is for Local Nature Recovery. This is a subject that has never been more talked about and we are seeing get implemented across sites, with so many benefits. The big take home is early planning, understand what you have on site and then you can plan for the 10% net gain. 

 Nature’s Architects - #09 I Don’t Wear Tweed or Have a Beard.

I have personally watched and admired the work of Sharon Durdant-Hollamby for many years. Sharon does some amazing work with the NHS and grant schemes to deliver impacting schemes for residents, amongst so many other things.  

We’re going to be looking at, how we as professionals can actively promote green infrastructure and its importance to how we live, work and play and what steps the Institute of Chartered Foresters, for which Sharon is the Vice-President of, are taking to inspire great places.

 Nature’s Architects - #08 Booked It, Packed It, Glamped It.

Now this is a great chat, with Glampitect Director Ali Young and of interest to us being keen campers and enjoy outdoor living!

With experience in setting up sites for himself and for Glampitect's clients, Ali is able to provide some great insight into the pros and cons of being a glamping site owner and the lessons he's learned along the way.

 Nature’s Architects - #07 European Arboricultural Council

This week we chat to Jonathan Cocking Director of JCA and President of the European Arboricultural Council (EAC). This is part 2 and specifically looking at the EAC and Jonathan's planning for JCA.

This discussion goes in a great direction and if you are interested in arboriculture in Europe and the European Treeworker Certificate, or simply want to understand more about business management, this is the podcast for you. Clearly arboriculture and running businesses is so intertwined in his life plus seeing the success of the business. 

 Nature’s Architects - #06 From the Roots Up

Now this is a fascinating chat, with a good friend and director. We cover so many topics in such a short amount of time and I hope you all enjoy this one. I learnt a lot. So grab a #Yorkshire tea and enjoy this.
 
This week we chat to Jonathan Cocking Director of JCA and President of the European Arboricultural Council (EAC) . We spoke to technical director Charles a couple of weeks back. Jonathan has successfully steered JCA to huge growth over the years and also has an inherent passion for arboriculture and the wider industry.  Jonathan is a Registered Consultant with the Arboricultural Association, expert witness, Chartered Biologist and Chartered Forester. It's fair to say he knows his stuff.

This discussion goes in a great direction and if you are in a family run business, want to understand how people start in the industry, or simply want to understand more about business management, this is the podcast for you. Clearly arboriculture and running businesses is so intertwined in his life and seeing the success of the business. 

 Nature’s Architects - #05 Tech and Arboriculture

Now this is a great chat, with urban forester and real tech entrepreneur from PlanIT Geo and TreePlotter. This is a system as a company we have been using for 18 months and see it as the most powerful tree data capture system for both our team and most importantly our clients. 

This week we CEO and Founder of PlanIT Geo, a person who is passionate about the recovery of nature in cities across the world, via the use of technology and the drive to promote the benefits of urban trees to the masses. Him and the PlantIT team challenge clients, decision-makers and citizens to elevate the critical importance and value of urban forests in creating vibrant, liveable cities. So welcome to Ian Hanou, Director and Founder PlanIT Geo & TreePlotter

It was great to get to know the person behind the technology drive in arboriculture Ian as his enthusiasm for strategic approaches to improve our understanding of the importance of data relating to canopy cover. As a company we rely on TreePlotter and all of the work done by Ian and his team including Russell, Cherry and Theri in the UK.  TreePlotter increases surveying efficiency, can be used across multiple devices by multiple people, it integrates tree risk, BS5837, CAVAT and many other surveying elements and iTree integration is on the horizon.

Nature’s Architects - #04 The Importance of Greenspace Post Covid

Now this is a fascinating chat, with a man who has travelled the world both managing and assessing parks from Dudley to the desert parks in the United Arab Emirates.
 
This week we welcome the Parks & Grounds manager from Rugby Borough Council, someone with enormous passion for green space and its use, and has been recognised by royalty for his exceptional work with Green Flag for delivering exceptional green space for over 35 years. It is an absolute pleasure to be speaking with Chris Worman MBE. Chris has also spent many years with the Midlands Park Forum, and in a nutshell wants to ensure every person has access to useable green space.

I could have spent all day speaking with Chris as his enthusiasm for green space, integration of the public with it and strategic approaches are ingrained with everything that he does. The work he has done has taken him around the world. He explains how he got into the green space and infrastructure industry and the changes that he has seen.  

Nature’s Architects - #03. Does Money Grow on Trees?

Now this is a fascinating chat, with two good friends and company directors. We cover so many topics in such a short amount of time and I hope you all enjoy this one. I learnt a lot. So grab a drink and enjoy this.

This week we chat to two great company directors, Charles Cocking of JCA and Luke Faye of Treeworks Environment Practice. Both have successfully steered their respective companies to huge growth over the years and also have an inherent passion passed down from a previous generation. Both are real characters and enthusiasts within the industry.

This discussion goes in a great direction and if you are in a family run business, looking at succession in it, or simply want to understand more about business management, this is the podcast for you. Clearly arboriculture and running businesses is so intertwined in their lives and seeing the success of their teams. 

Nature’s Architects - #02. The Urban Designer

This week we chat with Design Director of Barton Willmore, a real character and enthusiast within the urban design world and someone who truly has a passion for promoting a completely holistic approach to urban design and place making, which is designed and developed to provide many multifunctional purposes. So welcome to Luke Hillson, Urban Designer.

We’re going to be looking at, how we as professionals can actively promote green infrastructure and its importance to how we live, work and play and what steps the RTPI are taking to inspire great places.

Nature’s Architects - #01. President of the Landscape Institute

And for this, our first ever episode, we are setting the bar high with our guest. I have personally watched and admired the work of Jane Findlay from afar for many years, and I was delighted when I saw the announcement during the lockdown in June, that she had become President of the Landscape Institute. 

We’re going to be looking at, how we as professionals can actively promote green infrastructure and its importance to how we live, work and play and what steps the Landscape Institute are taking to inspire great places.

Tree Lady Talks - Podcast

Tree Lady Talks, Episode 10 in discussion with Pete Wharton, founder of Wharton Natural Infrastructure Consultancy, a multi-disciplinary business. Sharon and Pete discuss what it's like building a business through an economic crisis, people management in unprecedented times of furlough, and virtual team-building, including Zoom meetings and managing staff mental health through difficult periods during this pandemic. A fascinating insight from one of the industry's leading professionals.