As part of the ongoing Meet the Board series, Tom Arnold, Director of the Amenity Forum, Founder and CEO of TopGrass and Chair of the UK Lawn Care Association, speaks about his passion for the amenity industry and his commitment to helping move it forward.
Tom has spent more than 40 years working in the amenity sector and is widely recognised as a strong advocate for professional standards, training and the promotion of best practice.
Over the course of his career, he has spent approximately half that time working with manufacturers of amenity fertiliser and plant protection products, and the other half building and leading his own lawn care business.
Today, TopGrass is recognised as the largest independent lawn care company in the UK
As the industry responds to changing environmental expectations, increasing demand for sustainable landscape management and a growing focus on professional competence, Tom brings valuable practical experience and insight to the Amenity Forum Board.
We spoke to Tom about the challenges and opportunities facing the industry, the importance of collaboration and the role of natural turf in creating healthy, sustainable and attractive green spaces.
Q&A: Tom Arnold
What attracted you to the Amenity Forum and the opportunity to join its Board?
I have always believed that the amenity sector is stronger when organisations work together. The Amenity Forum provides a unique platform for bringing together different parts of the industry, including contractors, suppliers, professional bodies, local authorities and regulators.
The Forum has an important role in promoting best practice, encouraging professional standards and ensuring the sector has a collective voice on issues that affect us all. Joining the Board provided an opportunity to contribute to that work and help support the future development of the sector.
Why is the work of the Amenity Forum important?
The amenity sector is incredibly diverse, but many of the challenges we face are shared. Whether you are managing lawns, sports turf, parks, public spaces or wider landscapes, there is a common need for professional competence, responsible management and effective communication.
The Forum provides an opportunity to share knowledge and experience across sectors, whilst helping to ensure that decision-makers understand the practical realities of managing amenity spaces.
It also plays an important role in promoting Integrated Pest Management (IPM), supporting professional competence and helping organisations adopt practical, sustainable approaches to managing pests, weeds and diseases.
What are the biggest challenges facing the lawn care and turf management sector?
One of the biggest challenges is balancing increasing expectations with available resources. Customers want high-quality, healthy and attractive green spaces, but organisations are also being asked to deliver environmental benefits, improve biodiversity and reduce inputs.
At the same time, the range of management tools available continues to evolve, making professional knowledge and evidence-based decision making more important than ever.
How is the sector responding to changing environmental expectations?
The sector has made significant progress in recent years. There is growing interest in IPM, improved soil health, sustainable turf management and approaches that reduce environmental impact whilst maintaining high standards.
Many organisations are also looking at how they can support biodiversity and make their landscapes more resilient to changing weather patterns and environmental pressures.
What role does natural turf play in modern landscapes?
Natural turf delivers a wide range of benefits that are often overlooked. It contributes to cooling, carbon capture, water management, biodiversity and wellbeing, whilst providing attractive and functional spaces for communities, sport and recreation.
As discussions continue around sustainability and environmental performance, it is important that the benefits of well-managed natural turf are recognised and understood.
What do you hope to achieve as a Director of the Amenity Forum?
I would like to see the Forum continue to strengthen its role as a trusted and respected voice for the amenity sector. There is a real opportunity to bring people together, encourage collaboration and help ensure that policy, regulation and best practice are informed by practical experience.
I am particularly passionate about raising standards across the sector through high-quality training, professional development and the promotion of a common quality standard that gives confidence to customers, practitioners and policymakers alike.
I would also like to see greater recognition of the environmental value of natural green spaces. The increasing use of artificial grass in domestic properties is a worrying trend, as it can represent a permanent loss for nature, biodiversity and the many benefits that living landscapes provide.
The challenges facing the sector will continue to evolve, but by working together we can help ensure that those responsible for managing amenity spaces have access to the knowledge, support and professional networks they need to succeed.
The Board of Directors comprises representatives from a broad range of organisations and disciplines, reflecting the diversity of the amenity sector. Further profiles of Board members will be published over the coming months.
For further information about the Amenity Forum, visit: www.amenityforum.net
