Welcome to the Landscape Agency’s first ever blog, co-inciding with the launch of our fully revamped and revised website. We hope you like what you see, please let us know what you think at enquiries@landscapeagency.co.uk.
It has been a busy start to the year here at the Landscape Agency.
First drafts of our masterplans for the four Royal Horticultural Society gardens (Harlow Carr, North Yorkshire; Hyde Hall, Essex; Rosemoor, Devon; and Wisley, Surrey) were presented to the client before Christmas and we have now completed a further period of consultation with Gardens Advisors and staff at all four gardens.
We continue to be involved at Gunton Park, Norfolk, where restoration works entered a new phase last month with a survey of veteran trees and exploring ideas for new woodland planting. We are currently investigating a suitable site for a possible new folly within the parkland. Last year Gunton Park won Country Life/Savills ‘Genius of the Place’ Awards for its sympathetic restoration led by Kit Martin (architect) and Ivor Braka (landowner) who were instrumental in transforming what was degraded parkland to a truly impressive setting for the main house and other listed park buildings.
A Herculean effort was made just before Christmas to assemble various reports and plans required for a planning application for proposed re-development of Hartham Park, Corsham, Wiltshire. A new office suite is proposed within the setting of the listed mansion house and Harold Peto walled gardens. Commissioned reports included a Landscape Masterplan for the 50-acre park, a Landscape and Visual Appraisal to inform the proposals, and 3d Photomontages of the projected office buildings and landscape scheme.
Cramlington in Northumberland could be the home for Charles Jencks’ controversial landform sculpture, Northumberlandia, a 500m long earth goddess up to 30m high. Jencks’ goddess, constructed from waste earth created by the extension of Shotton opencast coalmine situated between Cramlington and the nearby A1, was recently approved following a lengthy public inquiry. The Landscape Agency has acted as landscape advisor to The Banks Group, the coalmine’s owners, and the Blagdon Estate, the landowner, for the past five years, and continues to be closely involved with developments.
Work was completed last month on the first draft of a Conservation Management Plan for a private client at the richly historic Ballynatray Estate, Co Cork, Ireland, one of the most fascinating estates we have ever advised on. The estate comprises a host of important historical features within its boundary and is within land designated a Natural Heritage Area and a Special Area of Conservation. Our report considers grant opportunities and a prioritised 10 year work programme.
New commissions this quarter include:
The University of York – appointed to continue our ongoing work in connection with the creation of a new campus at Heslington East over the next ten years. Last year we developed initial masterplan ideas and a Landscape Design Guide to inform future design decisions. This new phase will concentrate on fleshing out our initial sketches for the Central Vista, a very exciting new public space for the University and the City of York.
Primrose Hill Summit, Royal Parks, London – as one of three landscape architect practices currently retained by the Royal Parks, our latest commission is to re-design the summit of this iconic hill. Presenting one of the finest views of the London skyline, this site will require a heightened sensitivity and a clarity of line and form.
Raven Audley Court plc are a new client who have commissioned us to work on two projects in the North and Midlands. Tunstall Court, Hartlepool will be serviced from our York office and Binswood Hall, Leamington Spa from our Warwick office. Raven Audley Court are, in their own words, “a specialist provider and manager of luxury retirement projects across the UK”. The company provides high quality retirement communities within which residents own their own property and pay a management charge to enjoy the benefits of communal social and health facilities, including use of the grounds and vegetable gardens.
Our work at Tunstall Court centres around the renovation of a large 19th century house, now derelict, set within a largely wooded landscape. The proposed development will provide carefully sited sheltered apartments for around 120 residents and will completely refurbish the existing hall and gardens, with the surrounding landscape designed with woodland walks and a formal garden on the site of the former bowling green.
Binswood Hall is a Grade II* listed building sited within a Conservation Area to the north of Leamington town centre. The site was originally a school, and includes a Great Hall and Chapel. Proposals will need to be sympathetic to the setting, enhancing the historic character of the site, whilst allowing for the needs of the resident community. This involves taking into account the access and mobility needs of residents, as well as providing planting that offers a variety of sensory experiences.
Elsewhere, we are continuing work on the launch of our new Graphics Division and the growth of our Arboriculture section – watch this space!
We are also looking to recruit over the next few months Landscape Architects who have completed their Pathway Landscape Chartership to join our happy teams in York, London and Warwickshire – even if we haven’t advertised a specific vacancy, we are always happy to look at CVs from exceptional individuals. Please email to recruitment@landscapeagency.co.uk .
We hope that you enjoyed reading this blog! We will update our news every month to keep you fully up to date with what’s happening at The Landscape Agency.
Patrick James
Managing Director
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