Urban Landscape Design logo
  • Menu
01829 740194
[email protected]
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Awards
    • Why Choose Us?
    • Team
    • Partners
  • Domestic
    • Domestic Projects
    • Outdoor Kitchens
    • Outdoor Living
  • Commercial
  • Design
  • Our Work
  • Testimonials
  • Careers
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • The Landscape Academy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Houzz

01829 740194 | [email protected]

  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Awards
    • Why Choose Us?
    • Team
    • Partners
  • Domestic
    • Domestic Projects
    • Outdoor Kitchens
    • Outdoor Living
  • Commercial
  • Design
  • Our Work
  • Testimonials
  • Careers
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • The Landscape Academy

Blog

Learning to adapt

February 24, 2020

Even in the midst of unexpected changes, learning to adapt needn’t slow you down. Holly explains all in this Pro Landscaper Magazine article.

Some of you may know, if you have been on our website or social media, that our dog Dylan is a very valued member of the team at our company. He is incredibly conscientious as the head of stress management and chief of mischief and has an exemplary attendance record, clocking up as many hours as the directors. I would recommend for anyone to have a dog in the office.

About 18 months ago, though, Dylan developed diabetes, and 12 months later he had a week long stint in intensive care with pancreatitis. He has recovered really well since then, but over Christmas, within a matter of days, he started to lose his sight due to diabetic cataracts. Over the Christmas break, I was monitoring how he was coping with adjusting to sight loss, and was surprised how his senses and instinct kicked in.

Dylan the office dog

It got me thinking about how we can lose sight in business; but if you listen to your instinct and your other senses, they should guide you through the blindness and navigate a solution or route you should take. Dylan, even though he literally couldn’t see me one metre away, used his sense of smell, sound, and touch to navigate his way around the walking route.

He still walked at the same pace, he still walked ahead of me, off the lead and not at my heel, demonstrating he’s a pack leader and will carry on regardless, learning to adjust to the current circumstances. I was amazed; it astounded me how quickly he adapted, and I wondered – is he faking it? Is he just pretending he can’t see me for attention?

Every so often, he proved that he was in fact struggling to see by stumbling over some uneven ground or walking straight through a large puddle (he normally avoids those). At times, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but he wasn’t fazed or seemingly bothered, soldiering on as if nothing had changed.

If we applied this tenacity and resilience imagine what we could achieve. There is untapped value in not giving up because of a setback, coping with change, not worrying about what we can no longer do, and cracking on with what we can, continuing at the same pace and using our senses to guide us.

Many of us worry about what might happen, and this holds us back. We resist taking forward an idea or an opportunity in case it doesn’t work, or we refrain from making contact with someone in case the conversation doesn’t go the way we expected. There were times during the walks that Dylan needed guidance, just like we do occasionally; when we can’t quite see something, we ask for help. If we need guidance on how to do something, we engage in training. I am currently guiding Dylan with new training when, for example, he reaches some steps or drops and warning when he is about to bump into something!

As I type this, the inspiration for this article is fast asleep on the sofa next to me, feet twitching, chasing rabbits like nothing has changed. You can teach an old dog new tricks if they are open to adapt and change.

Month

    November

    • Urban Director talks work and personal life in Pro Landscaper Magazine

    August

    • Penthouse Roof Terrace – Liverpool
    • Covid-19 announcement

    July

    • Benefits of Commercial Landscaping: Draw in customers and boost sales
    • 6 Reasons To Install A Fire Pit In Your Garden

    May

    • The Renson Canopy Range
    • Why You Should Have An Outdoor Kitchen
    • Kamado Joe Ceramic Grills offer

    April

    • Urban Landscapes continue to follow government guidelines

    March

    • Urban Landscapes Covid-19 Update
    • Urban Landscapes Coronavirus Policy

    February

    • Whatever the Weather: preparing for adverse weather conditions
    • Learning to adapt
    • Attracting more valuable projects
    • The First Steps to Employing Staff
    • Don’t Forget the Plants: Soft Landscaping Design
    • Being Tech Savvy For Your Business
    • The Health Benefits of Outdoor Spaces
    • Let’s Hear it From Holly and Mark Youde
    • Our exciting partnership with London Stone
    • Growing Ranks

    June

    • Make The Right Choice: The Do’s and Dont’s of Recruitment
    • All For Show: Why Industry Shows are Good for Your Business
    • Entering Awards: The Pros and Cons of Taking Part in Industry Awards
    • When Opportunity Knocks
    • Growing Pains and Gains: Growing Your Own Business

    September

    • For Better Or Worse: Being in Business With the Other Half
    • We’re Pro Landscaper Business Award winners!

    January

    • How to create cosy outdoor living spaces for all year round
    • Basic gardening tools everybody should have
    • Planning a Dementia Friendly Garden
    • Marshalls Register Award for Best Driveway Transformation over 70m
    • A Week in the Life of a Cheshire Landscaping Company

    October

    • 42 Under 42
    • 2018 BALI Awards
    • Modern day love of Fire Pits
    • MUD SLINGING AT WORK
    • THE BENEFITS OF RECRUITING AN APPRENTICE
    • WE MUST BE MAD …!
    • WE ARE PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE LANDSCAPING INSTITUTE
    • IS THERE A HOSEPIPE BAN?
    • AWARDS UPDATE JULY 2018
    • Award Winning Landscape Design
    • Commerical Landscaping, Wilmslow
    • Pro Landscaper Business Awards

    December

    • Festive Wishes
    • APL Awards
    • Commercial Landscaping, South Manchester
    • Landscaping Services, Cheshire
    • Fire Magic Outdoor Kitchen, Cheshire
    • Outdoor Living Area, Cheshire
    • Commercial Landscape Contractors, South Manchester
    • The Silver Lining
    • Flower Power
    • Compact & Bijou Outdoor Cooking
    • Outdoor Living on the Wirral
    • RHS Tatton – Show Garden
    • An unexpected guest
    • Exclusive Event 30th March 2017
    • Outdoor Living Area, South Manchester
    • Blistering Ovens
    • Pullover Power
    • Shropshire Lad
    • DoubleTree by Hilton, Chester
    • Teaching an old dog new tricks!
    • APL Membership

Categories

  • Urban Landscapes News
    • Awards
    • Charity Work
    • Commercial
    • Events
    • Large Projects
    • Pro Landscaper Articles
    • Products
    • Small Projects

Our Work

  • 01
  • 02
  • 03
  • 04
  • 05
  • 06

Heathlands Care Home

Directly with the client, we constructed and installed a beach themed garden, suitable for Dementia patients

Penthouse Roof Terrace – Liverpool

Roof terrace with garden studio and different areas to enjoy, including a seaside themed area

Contemporary Garden Chester

A cool contemporary project on a new build property in Chester.

Contemporary Courtyard Chester

In this small courtyard development in Hoole, we created a cool split level space for the client who wanted a modern feel.

Urban Landscapes HQ

Urban RHS Tatton

Our Work

Commercial
Heathlands Care Home

Heathlands Care Home

Directly with the client, we constructed and installed a beach themed garden, suitable for Dementia patients

Read More
Large Project
Penthouse Roof Terrace – Liverpool

Penthouse Roof Terrace – Liverpool

Roof terrace with garden studio and different areas to enjoy, including a seaside themed area

Read More
Medium Project
Contemporary Garden Chester

Contemporary Garden Chester

A cool contemporary project on a new build property in Chester.

Read More
Small Project
Contemporary Courtyard Chester

Contemporary Courtyard Chester

In this small courtyard development in Hoole, we created a cool split level space for the client who wanted a modern feel.

Read More
Outdoor Kitchens
Urban Landscapes HQ

Urban Landscapes HQ

Read More
Outdoor Living
Urban RHS Tatton

Urban RHS Tatton

Read More
 
Home
Home
Domestic
Domestic
Commercial
Commercial
Contact
Contact
Click here to Call Us On
01829 740194
Sign up to our newsletter
Get access to our quarterly news update
Click here to complete our simple
enquiry form

Make an enquiry

    I wish to receive updates via email

    Thank you for getting in touch. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

    London Stone

    We are the only London Stone partner in the North of the UK, providing their products on display and the same knowledgeable and friendly customer service you expect from this forward thinking landscaping products company.

    Renson

    Gold Partner status meaning we are approved designers and installers of RENSON® canopies

    HTA

    The Horticultural Trade Association provides a vital contact for identifying and dealing with key garden industry issues and opportunities, and represents industry views to Government and is its voice in the media.

    Association of Professional Landscapers

    We are members of the Association of Professional Landscapers and are vetted annually to keep up to date with legislation and best practice

    Trust Mark

    Trustmark is the only government endorsed scheme for almost all trades in and around the home

    Rolo

    All our operatives are ROLO trained which was introduced to raise the standards of Health and Safety and reduce the risks and accidents throughout the industry

    CHAS

    We are accredited with Construction Health and Safety who as an organisation, help businesses and organisations manage their Health and Safety risks and safeguard their reputation

    Bali

    We are members of BALI, the UK’s trade association for the landscaping sector who have a rigorous vetting procedure

    Constructionline

    We are registered with Constructionline – the UKs largest register of contractors, who vet all members to ensure they are qualified, and standards are uncompromised

    T: 01829 740194
    E: [email protected]

    Urban Landscape Design Ltd, Unit 7d, Barrowmore Enterprise Estate, Great Barrow, Chester CH3 7JA

    Company no: 8466269 Registered in England & Wales Copyright 2021 - Urban Landscapes - All Rights Reserved

    Web Design by eclipse marketing | Sitemap | Privacy Policy

    This site uses cookies: Find out more.