The Professional Garden Consultant’s Association (PGCA) was formed in 2016 to create a register of expert garden consultants, gathering together what had hitherto been a disparate and fragmented number of individuals, who, by nature of their work, were finding it difficult to attract potential clients due to the specialised nature of consultancy, especially in the domestic world. (Commercial clients already had their regular consultants, each with their own discipline, to call upon when required).
Every member must meet certain standards of expertise, with qualifications appropriate to their claimed skills, with at least ten years of experience at a senior level, before they are accepted into membership on proof of their merits.
Members are listed in the Register according to region (although some will offer their services across the UK (and beyond) if they wish). There is no ‘secretariat’, committee or chair (only an administrator to deal with any problems), with a single email address displayed on the website www.pgca.org.uk which will invite the caller to check the Register and choose a suitable consultant likely to meet their requirements.
It is a ‘not for profit’ association, with no commissions payable at any stage. Each individual consultant sets their own rates, terms and conditions of engagement. The only obligation on the part of a member is that they must refer an enquiry back to the administrator if they decline a commission for any reason, to ensure that the enquirer receives satisfaction and is not ignored.
Each member is listed under their region, with contact details displayed, and a brief summary of their particular expertise and ‘offer’ to potential clients, produced as a personal profile. This enables a member to promote their specialties, and attract suitable custom.
Enquiries and commissions are extremely variable, and it is essential that the PGCA offers as wide a range of specialists as possible. With around fifty accredited members, there are very few instances where the PGCA are unable to help.
Membership is with the individual, not a firm or company (although they may be one and the same) with two levels of achievement – Member (MPGCA) or Fellow (FPGCA) awarded according to merit and achievement within the association.
A specialist group within the PGCA offer their services as Expert Witnesses, each with further accreditation and proof of the high level of merit required to work within the legal system in Court situations. Most will also hold RICS or UK Expert Witness Register accreditation as well as their ‘Horticultural’ awards and certificates. These individuals will display that offer in their personal profile.
The register is only one method of advertising the skills of individual consultants, with everyone encouraged to display their membership on their personal websites. The PGCA motto is Integrity Through Association, maintained through high standards of entry.
Anecdotal reports from members around the country show the diverse nature of commissions and enquiries, including;
- Site assessments, valuations and evaluations of properties ranging from potential new build sites to stately homes.
- Many types of site/project failure, including porcelain paving, natural stone walling, decking, artificial grass, fencing, retaining walls etc.
- Establishing the cause of failure of a £100,000 Living Wall project on a public building.
- Several cases of flooding and water damage with multiple causes and problems.
- Interviewing for senior positions as Head Gardeners/Managers for large gardens.
- Hydro-mapping and SUDS compliance assessments.
- Landscape Land Area Management assessments and appraisals.
- Historic research involving garden restoration projects.
- Sustainable garden designs including long-term proposals for recycled waste.
- Plant failures on major schemes including assessments for future proofing success.
- Loss of light implications for public allotments caused by proposed high-rise flats.
- Drainage problems causing major aerobic losses to lawns and planting schemes.
- Insurances valuations, involving oil spillage, animal and vehicle damage appraisals.
The PGCA is now eight years old, and although membership has been steady at around fifty consultants, the ever-expanding nature of consultancy work requires constant monitoring and updating, with new challenges coming in at regular intervals. New applications are welcomed.