On Thursday 30 April, the Southern Green team set off on our first CPD trip of the year. The day brought together everything that makes these trips so valuable: learning, fresh air, team building, shared food, beautiful landscapes and valuable time spent together as a team outside of the office environment.
Our first destination was Wykeham Mature Plants and the shared learning started almost as soon as we stepped out of the car, with Simon pointing out a stunning specimen Cedar of Lebanon, and Black Walnut nearby. These impressive trees are often planted within designed landscapes for decorative purposes and as a mark of prestige.
The highly experienced and extremely knowledgeable host at Wykeham Mature Plants (Martin Howe) kindly gave us a detailed tour around the nursery. The tour was full of first-hand knowledge and insight, and gave the team a great opportunity to see the wide range of trees and specimen shrubs Wykeham grow up close, rather than just as names on a drawing or list.
During the tour, we discussed a wide range of topics, from the correct methods of specification using tree sizing and form, to pest control and some of the practicalities of nursery and planting operations. It was an invaluable experience for the team, helping connect technical knowledge with hands on experience.
Moving on from Wykeham, and after a quick coffee and al-fresco fish and chips, we were recharged and ready for the second part of our CPD Trip, South Cliff Gardens. Sitting together, enjoying the view and taking a moment to pause made it feel like more than just a CPD trip. It was also a chance for the team to bond outside the usual work environment.
South Cliff Gardens covers approximately 16 hectares and stretches for around 1.5km, forming a series of seaside walks and gardens with iconic views over the Spa and Scarborough’s South Bay. Southern Green led the design and delivery of this £7 million major restoration project, which included restoring historic features and lost views, improving biodiversity, addressing access and safety issues, and helping reconnect people with the gardens through new facilities, events and interpretation.
Simon led us through the gardens, sharing his unique in-depth knowledge of the gardens and experience of helping to deliver such a significant and complex restoration scheme. Walking through the completed landscape while hearing about the decisions, challenges and details involved with the project made the visit especially valuable.
The visit was extremely informative and rewarding, with highlights including a gathering in the Italian Gardens, where staff were tending to the flower beds and visitors were enjoying the gardens, luckily in the sunshine! From families to cyclists, maintenance staff and various other people we met along the way, hearing their positive comments first-hand and seeing the gardens in use was a great reminder of the impact these projects can have on the people who use them. It was simple but meaningful, seeing members of the public connect with a landscape that Southern Green has helped to restore and preserve for generations to come.
Our adventure finished with a ride on the historic funicular railway, often referred to as the Spa Cliff Lift. By the end of the day, we had clocked up a collective 162,000 steps – and that doesn’t include the steps from Ros’ two sausage dogs who had come along for the day! Adding their steps would likely double the overall total.
A big thank you to everyone who helped organise the trip, to Martin for welcoming us at Wykeham Mature Plants, to Simon for generously sharing his knowledge and experience, and to the whole SG team for making the day such an enjoyable one.
It was a brilliant reminder that CPD is not only about formal learning. It is also about stepping away from our desks, expanding our horticultural knowledge, experiencing placemaking first-hand, sharing knowledge, strengthening team connections, and being reminded why we do what we do.
