mike

Our latest assignment is the historic Poulton Estate near Cirencester, where a Priory was founded in1337 and the source of a Bronze Age treasure hoard of 59 items including fragments of gold jewels. We have been asked to generate a landscape scheme for the estate, which will involve clearance and restoration of medieval fish ponds and a masterplan for woodlands.

The 3rd stage of planting started on our site in Malvern. This week we took delivery of the trees from Barcham’s and 500 ornamental grasses, perennials and climbing plants from Kingsdown Nursery. The planting continues on site and we are eager to see the results in the spring!

We have been appointed to write a management plan for part of a SSSI on a coastal site near Weymouth overlooking Portland Harbour. Previously, we helped gain planning permission for three new houses designed by award winning contemporary architectural practice AR Design Studio. We are also working on the landscape details and planting design choosing plants suitable to the costal climate and very steep banks.

An oak leaf is the inspiration for the underlying framework of the proposed arboretum. A cherry and lime tree avenue would make a spine providing a direct route from the house to a pavilion. The leaf outline provides a meandering route creating a different experience to the spine avenue, with constantly changing views, aspect and interaction with the tree collection. Where the leaf outline kisses the edge of a lake, the path curves out over the water in the form of boardwalks and jetties. At path intersections, ‘nodes’ are made which can be openings or glades within the tree canopy; special places for attractive benches, specimen trees, patches of bulbs, or for sculptural works of art.