I've just returned from a whirlwind trip to the United Kingdom.
On Tuesday I had a meeting at the Perennial headquarters in Leatherhead to discuss an exciting new projects. Partners in the project are Perennial, Etesia and Fusion Media.
You are going to think of me as an awful tease but I can't reveal details of the project just yet as there's still work to be done and it would be stupid of me to say too much.
Hopefully I can say more by the end of June:)
It is sometimes a tough place working at the head of Landscape Juice. I've had conversations and heard news that has brought tears to my eyes. I've listened to members who are at the end of their tether and on the verge of falling apart.
Distressingly there has also been suicide.
Since the day I started Landscape Juice I've wanted to help our industry. It was imperative we didn't create an orchestrated back patting environment, I'm happy to leave that to others.
In these austere times there are many who are victims of the crimes of others and I feel, as an industry that there should be greater support.
That's why I feel Perennial's objectives dovetail perfectly with my aims and objectives.
Perennial, who are members of the Landscape Juice Network, have recently posted two examples cases of which it has recently had to deal with.
A Groundsman in crisis and Landscape gardener faces homelessness.
I think these two cases highlight what is just the tip of an iceberg and there is still a lot of pain to come and for many to endure.
We need to work as an industry to provide support for our industry practitioners.
I think the first important task is to get the message out to our industry that there is support available if needed. The second task is to tell people that it is not a weakness to ask for help.
Often it is just someone to talk to and knowing there is support at the end of a telephone that is needed.
Anita Bates of Perennial told me at the meeting that the financial crisis means less are donating but more are also needing perennial's help.
Call Perennial in confidence 0845 230 1839
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