Steve Bullman

When Storm Arwen brought severe gale force winds to parts of the North East, several communities were left cut-off and without power. One of those determined to help was Managing Director of Forest & Garden Ltd, Gregor McArthur, who responded to a request from their local MP for support in the supply of emergency generators. With the assistance of some industry contacts, and supply of alkylate petrol from aspen Fuel, Gregor and his team were able to restore power to more than 50 properties. Hexham-based Forest & Garden Ltd offer the sale, supply and servicing of a broad spectrum of two and four stroke machinery, for the landscaping, contracting and construction industries. “As soon as we saw the appeal we offered our services, and the response was a resounding ‘yes please!’” explains Gregor, who is supported by a team of five. “We contracted in some electrical engineers and sourced some additional generators, the vast majority of which would run on aspen Fuel.” “With generators sitting outside of residential properties, aspen was the ideal partner for the refuelling programme. As it doesn’t contain all the hazardous hydrocarbons of traditional pump fuel, aspen provided the power with significantly reduced levels of pollution and noxious fumes which was so important. It’s really accessible can sizes, with a bespoke filler cap, also meant it was safe, convenient and flexible for the residents to store and use.” When not assisting in recovery efforts, Gregor and his team utilise aspen Fuel in their workshop. “I’ve used aspen personally in various blends and formulations for more than 20 years so have seen first-hand the benefits that it can bring to both the operator and the machine. We use aspen 2 and aspen 4 for most repair and service jobs we undertake and, where we can, will supply any new machines with aspen Fuel.” As an Alkylate petrol, aspen is virtually free from benzene, sulphur and many other harmful hydrocarbons along with being ethanol-free, meaning aspen maintains engine performance and preserves the life of component parts which can be susceptible to failure. Gregor concludes, “It’s always good to be able to demonstrate the benefits of aspen to new audiences. In the recovery work for Storm Arwen, we must pass on a big thank you to the team at Anglo American Oil Company for ensuring we always had supply of aspen where and when we needed it most.”

Showcasing the Landscaping industry more than ever before, The LANDSCAPE Show 2022 looks to bring more exhibitors, more visitors and more features than ever before to Hall 3 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on the 28th and 29th September. This year LANDSCAPE introduces brand new features, including a Student Showcase by London College of Garden Design, and an additional program of ‘How to’ Seminars alongside their already outstanding program of 40 CPD accredited sessions for anyone in the industry to learn, grow, be inspired and expand their skills. Back again is the highly popular Pecha Kucha 20x20, Meet the Designer, Best In Show Competition and Women in the Industry event, this year to run in conjunction with #Yes She Can. This year the highly anticipated design competition, will be supported by the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust. The LANDSCAPE Show 2022 is the chance of the year to network with top industry professionals and keep up to date with the latest news and innovations at the largest event the industry has ever seen! Visit the LANDSCAPE website at www.landscapeshow.co.uk to register for FREE entry to the most valuable event for the world of landscaping. Make sure to follow LANDSCAPE on social media to see the latest exhibition updates and be the first to hear about even more reasons why LANDSCAPE 2022 is the show you do not want to miss. See you in September!