Landscape gardeners show trends and future prospects

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At the 19th International Trade Fair for Urban Green and Open Spaces – Design – Construction – Maintenance, some 1,000 exhibitors present the green sector's expertise and efficiency for visitors from Germany and abroad from 15–18 September 2010 in Nürnberg. The Bundesverband Garten-, Landschafts- und Sportplatzbau e. V. (BGL) [Federal Landscape Contractors Association] as honorary sponsor of the trend exhibition is delighted that Dr.Johannes Hahn, EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, has assumed the patronage of "GaLaBau 2010", and that Professor Dr. Dieter Hundt, President of the Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände (BDA) [Confederation of German Employers' Associations], will open the leading green exhibition with a political greeting.

Together with its state associations and service companies, the association for employers and industry presents the range of services for landscape gardeners in Nürnberg. BGL also organizes an attractive supporting programme, as revealed by Redeker in the run-up to "GaLaBau 2010": "We offer the visitors a wealth of information, ideas and perspectives for successful entrepreneurial action. The importance of green is growing and it is becoming clear at all levels that full of quality of life in future is only possible with green!"

BGL takes up garden and landscaping trends and offers a varied programme for green construction:

GaLaBau Conference I "Grass: Top fit for sport, leisure and garden" takes place from 1–3p.m. on 15 September 2010 in cooperation with the Greenkeeper Verband Deutschland [German Greenkeepers Association] and is chaired by GVD President Hubert Kleiner. The demands on the grass differ widely between golf courses, sports grounds, parks or play areas and lawns in private gardens. A large variety of grass species is available for creating attractive and high-quality grassed areas for an extremely wide range of applications.

Grass experts like Dr. Klaus Müller-Beck, Dr. Harald Nonn, Dipl.-Agr. Bio. Martin Boksch and Dr. Jörg Morhard show what influence the choice of the right grass species and mixtures for sowing or turf has on the properties, performance and respective applications. They also provide information about the latest developments and new findings on automatic maintenance techniques.

GaLaBau Conference II "Bioengineering construction – The future for the landscape sector?" (16 September 2010, 10.30a.m.–12.30p.m.). Greater awareness of nature increases the demand for ecological construction. Increased environmental awareness is leading to more and more water areas being changed to a natural design. This opens up new fields of activity for landscape construction, in which rediscovered bioengineering methods are used for bank revetment. Materials such as timber and stone are selected to suit the landscape and special attention is given to plants, so that landscape gardeners can contribute more of their extensive know-how here. Experts like Dipl.-Ing. Andreas Stowasser and others provide information about the latest developments.

GaLaBau Conference III "Light – The crowning touch in the garden" (16September 2010, 1–3p.m.). The home garden is also a source of valuable experiences after sunset. Innovative lighting adds the crowning touch to the pleasure of a garden and makes the "green living room" a stage for the senses in spring, summer, autumn and winter. Light designer Andrea Nusser, corporate landscape consultant Georg von Koppen and landscape contractor Ulrich Schultze show the prospects.

Selectively used, light creates a special mood and atmosphere in the garden. Illuminated terraces and sitting areas are also inviting places in the evening in the garden season. Plants, artistic elements or the garden pond are highlighted with light. Good lighting also ensures safety in the access area to the house, garage and all garden paths. In a new garden, the necessary excavation work for the lighting system can be carried out at the same time as planting the garden. Landscape gardeners in cooperation with electricians plan and implement professional garden lighting to put the crowning touch to the pleasure provided by a garden.

GaLaBau Conference IV "Information and changes in German regulations" (17September 2010, 10a.m.–12p.m.) takes place in cooperation with the Bund Deutscher Landschaftsarchitekten (bdla) [Federation of German Landscape Architects] with the support of UNITA Unternehmensberatung GmbH. The speakers include Dr.Rüdiger Kratzenberg, Dr.Andreas Merz, Dr.Herbert Franken and Diplom-Kaufmann Bernd van Neerven, a business management graduate.

For the new 2009 edition of the German Construction Contract Procedures (VOB), Part A has been substantially revised and the content reduced from the former 32 paragraphs to the present 22 paragraphs and reallocated. The major changes to the contents are explained and the advantages of prequalification shown. Whereas the use of VOB is legally stipulated for public clients, the landscape architects and contractors increasingly often question whether the use of VOB/B is still opportune as General Terms of Business for contracts with private customers (consumers), or whether the regulations of the German Civil Code (BGB) are sufficient for arranging contractual relationships with the client.

The major changes to the current German Scale of Fees for Architects and Engineers (HOAI) are also shown and it is explained whether these fees should also be used by landscape contractors for planning. Information will also be provided on matters of "Guarantees via credit insurers" and bad debt insurance policies.

GaLaBau Conference V "Credit talks: Well planned is half the battle!" (17 September 2010, 1–2.30p.m.) is chaired by Henning Krumrey, Deputy Chief Editor of "Wirtschaftswoche" magazine. The speakers include landscape contractor Immo Herbst, bank expert Hartmut Kahlich and another financial expert. A considerable number of SMEs have financing problems, especially those who – like landscape contractors – rely mainly on bank loans for financing. To make sure the bank doesn't cut off the flow of funds in the present credit squeeze, a number of important things have to be considered to at least obtain reasonable terms.

The fifth edition of the "Landscape Gardener Cup", the Germany-wide skills competition at "GaLaBau 2010", again attracts attention to the varied demands on garden and landscape experts. The ELCA International Award for Ecological Construction & Landscaping will be presented to a deserving innovative project in 2010 for the seventh time. BGL will also present its “Silver Landscape” Award again, its highest award for outstanding services. In addition, the “GaLaBau Innovation Medal 2010” will be presented to innovative and pioneering landscaping solutions.

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