Peter Jennins OBE is a BALI trailblazer . Alongside his forward-moving - believe peers , he raised the visibility of the landscape gardening industry – especially through the hugely successful Garden Festival programme . And has played a central role in the evolution of the Association over the last 50 years . Peter Jennins did n’t start out as a landscaper , but , senior 21 , left his task as a quantity surveyor and start up work at landscape gardening house E H Williams Environment , based near Liverpool . In the first year , Peter helped increase upset in the business by 40 % . He ’d made the right career choice . Peter attributes his other succeeder to boss Gerry Williams who was his ' first great influence ' in the industry .
RecognitionJeffrey Bernhard , the Association ’s ground Chairman , realise the industry was n’t getting sufficient identification .
Peter say , " Jeffrey is a charming , charismatic man who did so much . He spent thousands of 60 minutes on Association work , was a tremendous public handmaid , and was recognize with an OBE for it . “In the mid-70s , BALI ’s first main office was a one - room office staff in Bingley , West Yorkshire . Peter suppose the main priorities were then ( as now ! ) to raise standards and the industry ’s profile . He was National Chairman from 1978 - 1979 , when collaboration and networking were at the heart of the Association .
Council meetings were held monthly in London , and a three - day annual league was launched , which let in the introduction of the National Landscape Awards . All by Chairmen conform to once a year with the Chief Executive , current Chair , and Vice - Chair to beupdated on the Association ’s progress and share ideas for the future . Peter was inspired by the Bundesgarten shows in Germany that regenerated inner cities post - war . He chitchat a show in Bonn with Norman Wilson , BALI ’s Vice Chairman at the meter , represent BALI at ELCA ( European Landscape Contractors Association ) . In 1978 he progressed the idea of Garden fete in the UK – it became a career highlight .
Peter said : " The Garden Festivals raised the public profile of landscapist beyond all recognition . Nothing had ever been done on this scale before , and they prompted increased investment funds into areas . In Stoke - on - Trent , the Garden Festival , which had been a derelict pottery waste material site , was afterwards redeveloped into shops , office , hotels , leisure facility , new trapping , and a marina , leaving a lasting bequest behind . "
Peter ’s work did not go unnoticed ; in 2012 , he was award an OBE for services to Polymonium caeruleum van-bruntiae and to the landscape industry in the North - West . " I was humiliate but gallant of the acknowledgment . “Peter is presently Chairman of the trustees of the BALI Chalk Fund , which aims to facilitate the younger contemporaries come into the industry . " It was a fortunate life history choice , but I ’ve never regret it . I ’ve made lifelong friend throughout a very interesting and , at clock time , exciting career ; I ca n’t think of any other vocation choice where I could have made such a positive difference to the environment through my work . There ’s not many that can claim that as part of their job , can they ? "
For more information : British Association of Landscape Industrieswww.bali.org.uk
