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© Coppyright Landscape Agency Landscape Architects / Designers | Yorkshire
The Landscape Agency is a landscape design practice based in York, Warwick and London. It is working on projects across the UK and Ireland ranging from concept and planning to detailed design and implementation.
The practice was established in 1998 by Patrick James in response to the increasing need for good landscape management and design particularly in the historic context. A small team of specialists was brought together, and a number of significant commissions were secured, the first of which was a review of the landscape at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Patrick James had previously worked for the Heritage Lottery Fund where his role included undertaking a policy review of investing lottery funds in land-related projects. The practice is now recognised as one of the leading consultancies in the restoration, conservation and future development of historic landscapes in Britain.
The Landscape Agency now employs 20 staff across a range of disciplines working on projects that range from public parks and university campuses, to urban townscapes and private gardens. In addition to landscape architecture the firm also specialises in arboriculture and ecology, two fields which are frequently combined with good landscape design to deliver successful projects.
Our work results from a knowledge of history and tradition, an understanding of contemporary needs, attention to the conceptual and material processes and a full awareness of sustainability. We believe in a constant exchange with our clients and other consultants in order to deliver enlightened projects on time and within budget.
The Landscape Agency works with a number of leading architects, developers and national institutions, as well as local authorities and private individuals and this range of clients is a measure of our success as an innovative, imaginative and reliable practice.
The Landscape Agency Covers a vast array of work over Yorkshire and the UK:
Balfours with Lane Fox Berkeley Homes Bessington Investments Bidwells Burks Green Business Homes Carter Jonas Charles Church Homes City and Country Residential Colliers CRE Countryside Properties Dacre, Son and Hartley Delancey Group DTZ Duchy of Cornwall Duchy of Lancaster Fisher German FLEstates Ltd Grosvenor Harrison Developments H J Banks Group Knight Frank LXB Properties Persimmon Homes Portman Estate PPG Land Ramboll Whitbybird Rural Solutions Savills Shepherd Homes Smiths Gore Southern Properties Strutt and Parker Taylor Wimpey Turner & Townsend The Helmsley Group The Raven Group
Bedfordshire County Council Berkshire College of Agriculture Burton Constable Foundation Cheltenham Borough Council City of Westminster Ealing Borough Council East Hertfordshire District Council Hackfall Trust Hereford and Worcestershire Gardens Trust Holburne Museum Kirklees Metropolitan Council Landmark Trust London Borough of Brent Middlesbrough Borough Council National Trust North Yorkshire County Council Royal Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Strawberry Hill Trust Weston Park Foundation Woodland Trust York City Council Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Urban and rural development - Graham Prior - +44(0) 1904 691 630 Estates and gardens - Alistair Baldwin - +44(0) 1904 691 630 Environmental planning - Graham Prior - +44(0) 01904 691 630 Heritage and leisure - Alistair Baldwin - +44(0) 1904 691 630 Tree and Woodland - Andrew-Bowman-Shaw - +44(0) 845 034 5390 Graphic design and website design - Mike Bolingbroke - +44(0) 1904 691 630
Address: Lancaster house, James Nicolson Link, Clifton Moor, York, YO30 4GR Telephone: +44(0) 1904 691 630 Fax: +44(0) 1904 631 634 Directions:Download PDF
Address: Avenue M, Stoneleligh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LZ Telephone: +44(0) 8450 345 390 Fax: +44(0) 247 697 640 Directions:Download PDF
Address: 1 Barb Mews, London, W6 7PA Telephone: +44(0) 207 371 6303
http://landscapeagency.blogspot.com/
http://www.landscapeinstitute.org/ http://www.defra.gov.uk/ http://www.architecture.com/Home.aspx http://www.green-space.org.uk/ http://www.iema.net/ http://www.bramhampark.co.uk/VISITING/GARDENS%20AND%20PARK/LANDSCAPE%20DESIGN/
Bailbrook House
Client: Hilwood Resorts & Hotels
Role: Landscape Management The 18thC Bailbrook House was built as a private residence but has seen many uses under different ownership over the years, being variously an asylum, college and, since 2002, a training centre. The historic landscape, which may have seen the hand of Humphry Repton, lies within the city of Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The new owners wish to redevelop and refurbish the site as a five star hotel and conference centre. In the context of the proposed redevelopment, The Landscape Agency has been commissioned to prepare the following reports: Visual Impact Assessment; Historic Landscape Survey; Landscape Character Assessment; Landscape Management Strategy; arboricultural survey; ecological assessment and landscape masterplans together with detailed design proposals.
A planning submission was made in December 2007. [Download Bailboork House Project Sheet PDF]
Ballynatray
Client:Private
Role: Landscape Management The Landscape Agency was approached to work up an Estate Masterplan for a private client at the richly historic Ballynatray Estate, Co Waterford, 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. The estate has traditionally been a working estate, practising both pastoral and arable farming and the house, its approaches, gardens and parkland have all been designed with an emphasis on enjoyment of the natural landscape.</p> <p>Our report identifies the estate’s key character areas, suggests outline proposals for the enhancement and preservation of these areas, considers grant opportunities and draws up a prioritised 10 year work programme. Our report also examines ways in which the estate can maximise income from developing its shooting and fishing capabilities over future years. [Download Ballynatray Project Sheet PDF]
Bishops Palaces
Client: Church of England Church Commissioners
Role: Landscape Management We have been commissioned by the Church Commissioners to review all 43 Bishops’ residences over a five year period with a view to working up individual, practical management and maintenance plans for the landscapes associated with these residences.
While aiming to minimise expenditure, the Church Commissioners are committed to maintaining the Church’s assets and providing a suitable home for each bishop and his family. Our brief is to review the historic significance of the grounds, survey the site and prepare a practical masterplan in a mainly visual format that can be easily used by the grounds maintenance staff at each site.
The gardens vary enormously in size, scope and significance. Many are of historical and archaeological importance, some contain significant buildings and others have ancient trees or interesting horticultural qualities. They have almost all been cherished and enjoyed by bishops and public alike over many years, sometimes centuries.
Boughton
Client: Buccleuch Estates
Role: Landscape Management The historic park and garden at Boughton (Registered Grade I) was laid out by the 1st and 2nd Dukes of Montagu in the late 17th and early 18th century and is of exceptional interest. The gardens consist of a series of formal canals, long vistas and lime avenues and the layout remains remarkably intact.
During the past fifty years, this historic landscape has begun to lose its definition and the Landscape Agency has been commissioned to update a previously prepared management plan, and start to work up and oversee a detailed programme of works. This project is ongoing and currently involves working up detailed proposals to de-silt and fully restore a 300-metre length of canal, as well as oversee the replanting of several clones of lime.
Building: One Zero One
Client: Exemplar Properties Holding
Role: Landscape Management Located on Cambridge Science Park on the northern edge of the city, Building 101 represents a new build office development for Exemplar Properties Holding.
The Landscape Agency was appointed in late 2007 to provide Landscape Architectural services for the construction phase of the development and has been instrumental in providing solutions for the integration of service utilities and sustainable paving solutions on the site as well as detailed planting plans and hardworks detailing. Considerable time has been given over to the attention of detail and in particular the coordination of lighting, cycle parking provision and associated site furniture.
The practice has worked closely with the main contractor to secure the use of high quality materials on the development within budget and, in terms of satisfying overall sustainability requirements, has assisted in the process of gaining BREEAM accreditation.
Calke Abbey
Client: The National Trust
Role: Arboriculture Calke Abbey estate is located south of the village of Ticknall in Derbyshire. The early 18th century house, built on the site of an Augustinian Monastery, is surrounded by a Grade II* listed parkland, which supports many veteran trees. The estate also includes a further 690ha of farmland. The relative lack of intensive farming has meant that the estate is a good example of a pre-World War II, pastoral, English lowland farmed landscape.
The Landscape Agency was asked to undertake a condition survey of the trees and hedgerows within the Parkland and Estate and prepare a 100 year tree planting plan to ensure a continuation of the tree canopy for future..
Client: Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement Estate
Role: Masterplanning & Landscape Design The park and gardens at Chatsworth make up one of the best known historic landscapes in Britain, if not Europe.
The Landscape Agency has been commissioned to undertake a review of the way in which the historic landscape is managed and maintained, as well as to prepare ten-year management plans for the 2,000 acre park and 150 acre gardens working closely with the existing staff. The plans have set out a programme of work for the ongoing development of the landscape as well as identifying means of improving visitor circulation, siting of car parks and sculptures.
Since completing the plan we have been commissioned to work up detailed specifications and proposals for a number of individual projects contained within the Management Plan.
Chevin Lodge
Client: Crerar Hotels
Role: Landscape designers/ecological consultants
The Landscape Agency was originally commissioned by Crerar Hotels over three years ago as landscape consultants. Our initial brief was to prepare landscape proposals to accompany a planning application for the proposed setting of 21 detached wooden lodges set within 50 acres of silver birch woodlands at the Chevin Country Park Hotel, near Otley.
The hotel has an elevated position on the brow of the Chevin Forest, its unique timber lodges sitting naturally within the landscape. The Landscape Agency also undertook completion of habitat and arboricultural surveys.
Planning approval was subsequently granted and the Landscape Agency has worked closely with the owners overseeing works on site.
Great Dixter
Client: The Great Dixter Charitable Trust
Role: Landscape Management
Great Dixter, along with Sissinghurst and Hidcote, is one of the most significant 20th century gardens in Britain.
We were appointed in January 2007 to prepare a Conservation Management Plan for the gardens and estate, working closely with Donald Insall Associates. The plan involved looking at the entire 57-acre estate as well as the well-known 6-acre gardens where Christopher Lloyd worked with his head gardener, Fergus Garrett, to plant the most ‘generous garden imaginable’.
Proposals include ideas for improving visitor experience and increasing training and education opportunities across the estate. In March 2008, the project to preserve the timber-framed house and estate was awarded a £4million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards a total project cost of £7 million. The Trust is now preparing a further fully developed application to secure the grant.
Eaton Square
Client: The Grosvenor Estate
Role: Landscape architects; consultancy Eaton Square is one of the best known garden squares in London.
In 2001, the Grosvenor Estate and the residents of the square appointed the Landscape Agency to prepare a Masterplan to completely replant the square which was in need of a makeover. Following archival research, tree and vegetation surveys and extensive consultation with the likes of Westminster City Council, English Heritage as well as the residents, our masterplan was adopted in 2002 and was implemented during the following three years.
In 2003 the garden won a major award as one of the best restored London Garden Squares. We subsequently worked with the estate to recruit and appoint a new head gardener, and the gardens continue to be very well maintained.
Escrick
Client: Escrick Estate
Role: Landscape Design As part of a strategy for the wider country estate we were commissioned to produce a detailed landscape masterplan for the development of a farm shop, café and ‘4-seasons’ country park. The ‘4-seasons park’ is a naturalistic design appropriate to the rural setting and includes the construction of a new lake, arboretum, sculptural landform and site–specific artwork. The planting palette provides seasonal colour and interest with structured planting used to frame spaces and screen views.
Enhancing the ecological potential was a key feature of the design and this was achieved through the introduction of new habitats and management techniques to encourage species diversity. This proposal was awarded full planning approval in Spring 2008.
Foundry Square
Client: The Helmsley Group
Role: Landscape Design
As part of a prestigious new development in the centre of York, The Landscape Agency was commissioned to design a new city square to act as an open space for residents.
The design took into account the needs of pedestrians and community safety and aimed to create a contemporary communal space within the development. Materials and planting were carefully chosen to reflect the building design and create colour and seasonal interest.
One of the innovative aspects of the design was the use of reinforced grass on all car parking areas to create the impression of a garden square in an urban area.
Fulham Palace
Client: London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
Role: Landscape advisors This unique Thames-side site is the former home of the Bishops of London, several of whom were leading horticulturalists, responsible for the collection and introduction of many species of garden plants and trees. The grounds which are owned by the Church Commissioners and leased by Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council are currently used as a public open space with a museum housed in the Palace.
The Landscape Agency’s report included an analysis of the designed landscape’s fascinating history, which dates back more than 1000 years, together with detailed survey, ecological and arboricultural assessments. Proposals were developed through a process of consultation with valuable input from local stakeholders including the neighbouring Fulham Palace Meadows Allotments Association.
Implementation of the ten-year restoration plan has already begun with much of the work being carried out by the dedicated team of on-site gardeners and local volunteer groups. The buildings are currently undergoing a major programme of restoration backed by £4 million of lottery funding.
Gorhambury
Client: Gorhambury Estates Co Ltd
Role: Historic landscape consultants/landscape architects
Gorhambury Park is an 18th century landscaped park which developed from woodland and deer park associated with the former Gorhambury House built by Sir Nicolas Bacon on the edge of the Roman city of Verulamium. The estate includes a major part of the remains including the theatre and a Roman villa.
This project was carried out to satisfy the terms required to secure grant aid for a ten-year agreement to part-fund the conservation, repair and restoration of the historic landscape. The restoration plan aimed to assess the historic, wildlife and landscape elements of the 800-acre park and propose a programme of work required to achieve the restoration objectives, which was subsequently used to secure funding for a 10-year Countryside Stewardship agreement.
Hackfall
Client: Woodland Trust / Hackfall Trust
Role: Historic Landscape Advisors / Landscape Consultants
The completion in Spring 2008 of a schedule of works to restore the Grade I listed woodland gardens at Hackfall to their original splendour is the culmination of almost six years’ work for the Landscape Agency and our team of conservation architects, landscape historians, hydrologists and ecologists.
Hackfall was a major tourist attraction in the late-18th and 19th centuries, the woodland setting providing the perfect setting for Aislabie’s paths and vistas that lead to numerous romantic follies (recently restored), breathtaking water features and cascades throughout the wooded valley. However by the early years of the 20th century Hackfall lay forgotten, most of the mature trees were felled, and ponds, weirs, follies and paths had become badly damaged.
The consultant team worked together to oversee the implementation of the works funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to partially restore key aspects of Aislabie’s designed landscape, facilitate public access and improve habitat quality.
Our restoration works won the inaugural 2008 RIBA / Landscape Institute White Rose Landscape Award.
Harewood End Park
Client: Duchy of Cornwall
Role: Landscape Advisors
Once one of the finest estates in Herefordshire, the mansion house at Harewood End was demolished in the 1950s and the parkland has been almost completely lost through conversion to arable farmland. However, a chapel, lakes, veteran trees, woodland and vernacular stone farm buildings survive.
The Landscape Agency’s landscape restoration plan (part funded by DEFRA’s Countryside Stewardship Scheme) forms part of a wider project to restore derelict farm buildings and rebuild a new house to recreate a focus for the landscape. The plan sets out proposals to create a parkland setting for the new house, respecting the historic layout but appropriate to the new uses of the estate buildings. Opportunities for enhancing wildlife habitats, preserving historic features and improving public footpaths are included.
RHS Garden: Harlow Carr Learning Centre
Client: Royal Horticultural Society
Having completed a masterplanning commission for RHS Harlow Carr at their 56 acre garden in North Yorkshire, we are working with architects EcoArc on the development of a new Learning Centre, Library and Teaching Garden.
The scheme places a great emphasis on the minimisation of the impact of building and landscape, and our contributions as ecologists and landscape architects have made a major contribution to potentially the highest BREEAM rating ever recorded in the UK. The centre will have a sedum roof, a geothermal heating system and will be built from sustainable materials.
When completed, the centre will provide teaching areas for children and adults, a lecture theatre, advisory services and teaching garden.
Hartham Park
Client: Hartham Park Holdings
The practice has been working closely with the owner of Hartham Park for the past three years in restoring this 50-acre estate with the intention of developing the Grade II listed Georgian mansion into a business centre and innovative cross company product research and development facility.
The Landscape Agency’s first commission was to prepare a Historic Landscape Conservation Statement to understand the existing condition of the landscape and put forward policies to guide and inform its future development. The development has been completed sympathetically to reflect the existing historic gardens first laid out in the 18th century and subsequently redesigned by Harold Peto early in the 20th century, elements of whose walled garden and walks still remain.
Since then, the practice has completed a Landscape and Visual Assessment and overall landscape masterplan, and has most recently worked up a 3D model of the proposed development using 3D Max software.
RHS Garden: Hyde Hall Entrance Project
We are currently implementing part of our masterplan at RHS garden Hyde Hall where we have designed the setting for a new visitor arrival facility.
A major new building, with exhibition space, ticketing, retail, catering, offices and outdoor gathering spaces is approached along a new access road sensitively laid over the rolling landscape of the wider estate. A new 400-space car-park has been designed with an entirely sustainable drainage system of open bioswales, taking surface water to a reservoir and ultimately to the garden irrigation system.
Minimal visual impact, the responsible collection of water, the deployment of low-impact materials and processes and the preservation of the rural Essex vernacular have driven this successful project, with phase 1 set for completion in August 2009.
Lowther Park
Client: The Lowther Estates
Role: Landscape consultants
The qualities of Lowther Castle, even as a silhouette, continue to make it one of the most imposing early 19th century buildings in Britain. We were commissioned by the Lowther Estate in 2002 to prepare a Conservation Management Plan for the Grade II* castle (now a ruin) and its surrounding 120-acre abandoned Grade II garden. Following successful completion of the plan, English Heritage awarded the estate funds to carry out emergency repairs.
Subsequently in 2004 we completed a Restoration Plan part-funded by DEFRA for the 2,500 acre park surrounding the castle and garden. It is a park of remarkable richness, diversity and scale which had been in decline since the second world war.
In 2005, we acted on behalf of the estate as a landscape expert witness in support of the erection of a new country house within the park. The estate won the appeal in what was a landmark decision for a new country house in a designated landscape under PPS7.
In 2007 the Landscape Agency undertook further work within the gardens, reviewing ways in which the gardens could be restored and opened to the public. This work is ongoing.
Montrose Place
Role: Landscape Designers
We were commissioned to work with architects Hamiltons to develop proposals for a new contemporary garden in Belgravia as part of a £35 milllion city-centre residential development.
The garden was designed in a classic style and uses geometric clipped yew interspersed with sandstone paving and oak seating to create a calming atmosphere. The boundary between the site and adjacent Montrose Place is marked by a spectacular Andy Goldsworthy wall.
The project was successfully guided through the planning process due to our extensive public consultation and preparation of supporting planning statements. We subsequently produced a full package of hard and soft landscape details for construction and formally handed over the project to our client in March 2008 - on time and within budget.
Area 4 Motorways Network
Client: InterRoute
Role: Landscape Consultants
Appointed by InterRoute in close association with the Highways Agency. A scoping document was produced to evaluate the provision of a five-year Landscape and Ecological Management Plan for the Area 4 Motorway network including the M2, M20 and M23.
As part of a Landscape and Visual Impact study, Zones of Visual Influence were produced for two proposed construction sites on the road network to demonstrate the value of desk based analysis in the motorway construction procurement process.
Nether Lypiatt
Client: Private
Role: Garden design; contract management
The Landscape Agency was commissioned in late 2006 to prepare a complete masterplan for the 20-acres of gardens surrounding this Grade I listed Manor house in Gloucestershire.
Following completion of the masterplan, new gardens were laid out immediately around the house. A major new flower garden has now been completed and future phases include further formal gardens and orchards as well as a new greenhouse for which we have successfully secured planning permission. More than 4,000 bulbs have been planted to date.
This project is ongoing.
Nymans
Nymans is one of the great flower gardens of the 20th century and is internationally famous for its beauty and collection of rare Rhododendrons, Magnolias, Camellias and Eucryphias. The garden was created by the Messel family from the end of the 19th century and contains one of the first Heath gardens known in cultivation. The National Trust took over the property in 1954.
We were appointed to prepare a Conservation Management Plan for the gardens. The purpose of this plan is to convey clearly and in a practical way, what it is that is significant about this great garden and to develop policies in close conjunction with the National Trust that will ensure that its significance is protected and maintained. The development and enrichment of the garden have been continuous throughout the 20th century and the Conservation Management Plan will act as a source of reference for many years to come.
Nyn Park
Role: Landscape architects, arboriculturists
Following a devastating fire on Good Friday 1963, only a small archway now remains of the 18th century manor house which once stood at the centre of the estate of Nyn Park. The park that surrounds the house was planted with conifers in the late 1960s by the estate’s then owner but very little has taken place in recent years which adds to the charm and mystery that surrounds it.
Recently acquired by a private client, the Nyn Park estate has now secured planning permission to build a new country house on the site of the former house. The Landscape Agency is working with architects Purcell Miller Tritton to masterplan the estate, completely restore the park and create a new garden. The first phase of works will start in autumn 2008 on a programme of conifer removal.
The Landscape Agency arboriculturists are overseeing extensive forestry, woodland and individual tree works. Among other reports, our ecologists have completed a detailed ‘Programme of the Ecological Enhancement of Nyn Park’.
Pittville Park
Client: Cheltenham Borough Council
The Landscape Agency has recently been appointed by Cheltenham Borough Council to assist in the preparation of a major bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund/Big Lottery to restore Grade II listed Pittville Park and estate to its former glory. The park extends to more than 150 hectares and is a popular green space for families, cyclists and joggers.
An HLF Project Planning Grant was awarded in September 2007 to prepare a major Stage I application under the Parks for People programme. The aims of the application are to attract more visitors to the park and its facilities, to conserve and improve the heritage value of the park, to improve pedestrian access, and to increase opportunities for local community involvement.
Portman Square
Client: The Portman Estate
The Landscape Agency was commissioned in 2004 to work up a landscape strategy for the restoration of Portman Square in central London.
The Grade II listed site, once one of Marylebone’s most aristocratic garden squares, suffered considerable damage in the Second World War. 20th century office blocks and a hotel have now mostly replaced the old town houses, however the gardens still provide a valuable private open space.
The Landscape Agency produced a management plan which emphasised the Square’s heritage, whilst accommodating the needs of its users. A programme of tree works, irrigation and new planting was drawn up to frame key views and provide colour within the park. The Landscape Agency produced a number of designs for the Square and following the finalisation of the agreed design, undertook the tender and contract management administration for the implementation works.
Preston Tithebarn
Client: Ramboll Whitbybird
Role: Environmental planning & consultancy
The practice was appointed to assist in environmental issues associated with a £750 million urban and mixed use redevelopment proposal in the centre of Preston, Lancashire. The proposal includes a new bus station, markets, retail and leisure facilities as well as commercial and residential developments.
Various ecological assessments, including Bat and Breeding bird surveys and an Ecology and Nature Conservation chapter, have been undertaken as part of the overall Environmental Statement which was submitted along with the planning application during the autumn of 2008.
The proposals are currently being considered by the local and county planning authorities.
Primrose Hill
Client: The Royal Parks
Role: Masterplanning & Landscape Design
The Royal Parks have commissioned the Landscape Agency 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.
We are currently retained to work for the Royal Parks as part of a four-year Framework Agreement.
RHS Gardens
The Landscape Agency has been commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society to work up masterplans for each of its four public gardens in England: at Harlow Carr, Harrogate; Hyde Hall, Essex; Rosemoor, Devon; and Wisley, Surrey.
The Landscape Agency was appointed following a rigorous tendering exercise and we are delighted to have been awarded this prestigious and challenging commission.
A key aspect of the masterplan brief is to celebrate the geographical and seasonal distinctiveness of the RHS gardens to capitalise on their individual characters. Phase one masterplans were completed in January 2008 and have provided the basis for more detailed planning work. We are currently implementing part of our masterplan at Hyde Hall where we are assisting the RHS with looking at aspects of the masterplan in greater detail.
Royal Parks Play Audit
Role: Landscape/children’s play consultants
We were commissioned to assist with the future development of children’s play facilities within the Royal Parks. The project involved conducting a review of existing play areas within The Regent’s Park, and following completion of the review, to create a new methodology for the assessment of ‘play value’ to be used as a future benchmark for play area assessments within all Royal Parks.
Following the play review, we were further commissioned to develop proposals for the four play areas within Regent’s Park and prepare a detailed design to upgrade the playground at Primrose Hill. Our design for The Regent’s Park play area evolved through a sense of place and an understanding of the local environment, in close consultation with local users and community groups. With an emphasis on creating a playful landscape, we worked with leading play equipment manufacturers to create inclusive play opportunities which offer the highest possible play value.
Stackallen
Role: Landscape Designers Stackallen in Navan, Co. Meath is a pre-Palladian house built in 1716 by the first Viscount Boyne, set in approximately 80 hectares of parkland. The Landscape Agency was asked to work up proposals for part of the wider estate in order to create a new park to the north of the house. This included a major programme of tree and woodland planting, opening views and construction of a new ha-ha.
A separate project looked at a detailed planting design for new pleasure grounds surrounding the Shell House, a newly designed folly, and was completed earlier this year.
The centrepiece of the newly planted pleasure grounds is a Wollemi Pine, one of the world’s oldest and rarest plants dating back to the Jurassic age. Fewer than 100 adult trees are known to exist in the wild and they have only been available as cultivated plants since 2006.
We have been retained by the Estate to oversee appointment of contractors and implementation of planting and fencing programmes over the next two years.
Strawberry Hill House
Client: The Strawberry Hill Trust
The Friends of Strawberry Hill was set up in 2000 by a group of enthusiasts interested in the preservation of the world’s most influential Georgian Gothic revival building, formerly the home of Horace Walpole.
The grounds of Strawberry Hill are Grade II*. The house is Grade I and is listed by the World Monuments Fund as one of the hundred most endangered buildings in the world. In 2002, a building preservation trust was set up to take over stewardship of the house and restore and develop it as a world class heritage site.
In February 2006 the Strawberry Hill Trust commissioned the Landscape Agency to prepare a conservation plan to restore the grounds. We worked in close association with Inskip and Jenkins architects as well as the Strawberry Hill Trust in preparing an application for further funding from the HLF in late 2006. The work involved detailed archival and site survey investigation including a tree survey, ecological survey and map analysis. A Stage II Award was approved in June 2007, total HLF lottery grant of £4.9M. We are currently implementing the restoration of the 15-acre gardens.
The University of York
Client: The University of York
During the next decade the University of York will undergo a £550million expansion. The Landscape Agency has completed a full landscape design guide to help inform all future detailed designs as this new campus is gradually built out.
In addition we are working with BDP architects in order to create a number of public boulevards and open spaces on this campus. The Central Boulevard will be one of the most significant public spaces to be created in Yorkshire for the past decade.
Ware Priory
Client: Ware Priory Trust
Role: Landscape Consultants Ware Priory Park lies alongside the River Lea in the town of Ware, Herts. It surrounds Ware Priory, a restored friary dating back to the 14th century, which has undergone extensive renovation work in recent years.
A Conservation Management Plan and a 10-year Management and Maintenance Plan have now been prepared in advance of a Stage 1 application to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Parks for People initiative by Ware Town Council.
The park extends to 7 acres and offers a variety of activities including riverside walks, a bowling green, a playground and a 1930s lido. Proposals for the park’s regeneration and future management were prepared alongside full consultation with the local community.
Wentworth Woodhouse
The Grade I Listed Wentworth House is one of the finest historic houses in Britain, being set within an exceptionally important historic environment with a designed landscape associated with Humphry Repton. It is also one of the largest stately homes in Britain with a room for every day of the year, over 1000 windows and five miles of underground passageways.
Beyond the parkland with its follies, temples and striking landscape features is a wider semi-rural landscape with a number of villages with historic links to the estate.
In common with many large country houses, Wentworth Woodhouse has had a chequered history since World War II. The effects of industrial mining, pressures caused by the use of the site as a Further Education College, and the pressures of encroaching suburban development have all taken their toll.
The Landscape Agency, in association with the architects Purcell Miller Tritton, was commissioned to undertake a number of studies and assessments relating to Wentworth’s historical significance. The overall objective being to produce a landscape masterplan to secure the estate’s long term future.
Westholme Caravan Park
Client: Paul & Company (Colliers CRE)
The Landscape Agency prepared a Landscape and Visual Assessment, Ecological Assessment and Landscape proposals for an expansion of this caravan and camping park in the significant and sensitive area of Aysgarth within the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
We were subsequently commissioned to undertake further works, including a Landscape and Woodland Management Plan to meet with planning application regulations.
The planning application has since been approved and our landscape proposals adopted on site.
Weston Park
Client: Weston Park Foundation
Weston Park is a Grade I Listed landscape managed by the Trustees of the Weston Park Foundation. It is now significant due to the largely intact late C18th landscape associated with Henry Bridgeman, Capability Brown and James Paine. The parkland hosts an intensive programme of events, including the Midlands Game Fair, which attracts high numbers of visitors.
The Landscape Agency produced a 10 year management plan for the site, and is now assisting in delivering the recommendations contained within the report. The key challenge has been to balance sustainable management and preservation of the historic landscape with the high levels of public usage: at present this is being achieved very successfully.
Woburn Golf Club
Client: Woburn Golf Club
Role: Aboriculture
Woburn Golf Club is located on the Bedford estate, west of Woburn village. There are three courses at the Club: the Duke, created in 1976; the Duchess in 1978; and the Marquess in 2000. A large proportion of each course has been cut out of mature mixed woodland.
The Landscape Agency was instructed by Woburn Golf Club to create a woodland management plan which will enable the preservation of the wooded landscape. The Club was surveyed to assess the current woodland resources and identify key features and habitats which are integral to this unique setting, as well as ensuring that the golfing challenges presented for the Club’s members by the three courses are retained.
The management strategy recommended in the plan has been accepted and proposals are currently being implemented. To date approximately 30,000 trees have been planted.
The Wootton Estate
The Wootton Estate covers approximately 1800ha of which 340ha is woodland. The woodland is now almost exclusively coniferous, planted onto sites which were previously semi-natural woodland; however some small pockets of ancient woodland still remain.
The long term plan of the estate is to return the well established plantations, now approaching maturity, to irregular sustainable woodland, providing magnificent sporting and landscape opportunities.
The Landscape Agency was commissioned to prepare a woodland management plan to achieve these aims. Since the plan was prepared in 2005 we have been retained by the estate to implement the management prescriptions proposed in our management plan.
Wrest Park
Client: English Heritage
English Heritage has recently secured full ownership of Wrest Park in Bedfordshire, a Grade I listed house surrounded by a Grade I registered park and garden. The gardens were first laid out in the late 17th/early 18th century and much of the original layout still survives. Later 19th century gardens were also created and the surrounding park was laid out by 'Capability' Brown.
In September 2008 English Heritage submitted an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund, seeking funds to support an initial £9million project to restore the extensive gardens, parkland and its garden buildings as well as creating an entirely new visitor arrival point and visitor centre set within the walled gardens.
We were appointed by English Heritage to prepare a comprehensive conservation Management Plan for the park and gardens as well as working up an accompanying masterplan related to creating a major new visitor attraction.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Client: Wakefield Council
Role: Landscape Designers Yorkshire Sculpture Park is an international open-air art centre for modern and contemporary art, visited by thousands of people each year. There are over 40 sculptures sited in the 500-ace country park, which was originally the 18th century parkland and gardens surrounding Bretton Hall, near Wakefield.
The Landscape Agency carried out a major landscape assessment looking at historical landscape development, management of a new land acquisition and siting and development of a new visitor centre. The preparation of a management plan was a condition of a Section 106 Planning Consent.
The environmental assessment and landscape management plan incorporated:
• A detailed artistic policy • Public access strategies • Improvements to ecological habitat management
