Pre-competition activity

Landscape Gardening Sample competition brief

Entry requirements
The competition is aimed at individuals working and/or training towards relevant programmes of study in landscape gardening at Advanced level. Competitors can be in education and training or working in industry.
Competition outline
TIMBER FRAME & TBM (7 marks)
The competition requires trainee landscape gardeners to showcase their skills by building pre-designed gardens individually.
Individual competitors are to build a 2x3m garden within 6.5 hours during the regional heat.
The gardens may be built above or in-ground and include timber construction, walls, water features, paving, varying levels, turf and planting. All materials and power tools will be supplied by the competition organisers. Competitors will be required to bring their own safety equipment, hand tools, wheelbarrows and shelter (gazebo).
All competitors will receive full briefing notes, sample marking sheets and garden designs.
The detail
Timber Frame & TBM (7 marks)
  • The thickness and size of timber may vary in size from the plan on the day.
  • Set and clearly mark your TBM height before 11am.
  • Timber frame to measure 2x3m to the inside edge of the timber (tolerance +/- 5mm).
  • The length across the diagonals of the external frame must be equal (tolerance +/-10mm).
  • All supporting pegs must be on the outside of the frame.
  • Frame to be complete before lunchtime break, when it will be marked by the Judges.
Hard Landscaping Paving (14 marks)
  • Marshalls Argent walling dark. Size 400x400x38mm
  • Compacted ground footings to be 80mm below TBM and adequate for the construction of the paving. Bed to be 42mm sand and lime (+/-5mm tolerance).
  • Membrane to be laid underneath paving.
  • Surface of paving to be at ground level.
  • Wet flush finish 8-10mm mortar joints (+/-1mm tolerance).
  • If cutting paving with a disc cutter, you must seek the supervision of a judge.
Hard landscaping Plinth (5 marks)
  • 498mm above TBM (+/-5mm tolerance)
  • Vertical on all four sides (+/-3mm tolerance)
  • Pointed with bucket and handle finish 8-10mm joints (+/-1mm tolerance)
Hard landscaping Granite Balls (4 marks)
  • Laid in chevron pattern to TBM in wet mortar (+/-5mm tolerance)

Decking (12 marks)

  • The height of the deck boards will be announced on competition day.
  • Substructure constructed level as per plans. To be marked before boards are added.
  • Boards laid to specification with 5-8mm gap (1mm tolerance).
  • Securely fastened the facia board’s level with surface.
  • If cutting with bench saw, you must seek the supervision of a judge.
Turf (7 marks)
  • Prepare the ground for accepting turf. Compost will be supplied to mix into soil.
  • Lay turf 10mm above frame and edging timbers level and abutting all sides (+/-3mm tolerance)
Planting (15 marks)
  • Prepare the ground for accepting plants, shrubs and trees.
  • Plant trees according to design and correct tree planting procedures with tree tie and stake.
  • The plants and shrubs to be planted as per planting plan to best aspect.
  • Melcourt bark to be laid evenly approx. 65mm deep (+/-5mm tolerance).
Health & Safety (12 marks)
  • There are 12 marks available for good health and safety practice.
Work process (11 marks)
  • Use of appropriate methodology and approach to activities.
  • Consistent work output throughout the day.
  • Confident application that results in a professional approach.
  • Work is carried out in a clear methodical manner.
Completed Garden (13 marks)
There are extra marks available for completing each of the sections above.
Documents you will need
Garden plan and a planting plan
The Plot
Your plot area will be marked out, near to size 2x3m and roughly level. A strong emphasis will be set on accuracy.
What’s Provided
Impact drill, disc cutter, bench saws and stand, jigsaw, screws and bolts.
Water, snacks (where possible)
Marking and assessment
Competitors will be continually assessed throughout the day. Final measurements and marking will be done once the gardens have been completed.
Competitors are marked on the following criteria:
12% Health and safety practice
12% Measurement, dimensions and setting out of works
29.5% Hard landscape
22% Soft landscape elements
13.5% General impression and accuracy of completed design
11% Work process
Competition rules

Essential to bring:

Tools

Wheelbarrow, spade, fork, brush, buckets, hand trowel, turf cutter, SHARP handsaws, spirit level, dumpy level, tampers, setting out tools and anything else you think you will need. LASER LEVEL NOT PERMITTED.
Protective clothing
Gloves, boots, goggles, dusk masks, knee pads, ear protection and a change of clothes
Copy of drawings
Contact details
For adviceon how to deign and deliver the competition please download the Pre-competition Activity Toolkit from or contact Angela Donovan at BALI