Category Archives: Soft landscape and planting design

‘Down But Not Out’ by Tom

Posted on 22/02/2013 by | 1 Comment

Leaning tree on A272 near Sheet, Hampshire

Trees are great. Fact. They provide us with oxygen, shade, habitat for wildlife, timber for building, chemicals for medicines, screening, beauty, shade…the list really does go on. They have long been a symbol of permanence within the landscape, taking decades to grow to the lofty heights that we so admire. Yet it takes only an instant to cut them down and lose it all…

 Therefore, safeguarding mature trees is an extremely important aspect of a Landscape Architects work and we’re helped by ‘BS 5837:2012 (see Bernie’s previous post!). 25-30cm girth replacements are great but they’re just not the same and feel like a meagre offering when you’ve lost a tree with a girth of several feet. The value of a large mature tree should have the potential to outweigh that of one extra house squeezed onto a development plot, since a pleasant and good quality landscape encourages us to pay a premium for property. What’s more, trees can really mean something to people and I’m always amazed by how attached we can get to a plant that we have no real link to, simply because it’s part of our daily scenery.

 This tree is found on the A272 just outside Sheet. It hasn’t been felled, it’s just resting on its branches and has been for maybe 20 years now – as long as I can remember anyway. Consideration was given to cutting it down but people objected because it was so familiar and liked as a local landmark. The plucky tree that fell over but wouldn’t give up. What could be a better symbol that we shouldn’t be quick to cut down large trees? Trees inspire. Trees endure. Trees are great.

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Posted in Future Landscape, green infrastructure, Historical landscapes, Landscape Architect, Landscape Architects, Landscape heritage, Landscape Management, Public open space, Residential landscape, Rural Landscapes, Soft landscape and planting design

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Landscape Design for Schools

Posted on 27/07/2012 by | Leave a comment

Sensory Garden, Liss Infant School

Designed by Alison Galbraith when her son attended Liss Infant School and constructed during the summer holiday of 2008, the garden replaced an unused and hard to maintain grass bank.

 

Front entrance planting designed by Alison at Liss Infant School, Hampshire

The garden uses the slope to create a looped walk with steps, a timber ‘bridge’ and seating areas along the way. A simple water bubbler provides a focal point which the children love to touch and various sculptures and hangings have been added within the garden, including the fabulous mosaic dragon which lurks amongst the planting!

Looped walk with sculptural features along the way

Planting includes herbs, grasses, shrubs, perennials, bulbs and a single tree. Plenty of sensory experiences! The existing ash trees overhanging part of the garden provide a shady seating area and other benches are included in more sunny spots.

Planting scheme establishing

The garden is well used by the school for small groups to do reading, talking or studying wildlife. The gardening club helps with maintenance though the bulk of the work is done by various members of staff who do a great job in caring for the plants and keeping the garden looking good.

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Posted in Landscape Architects, School landscapes, Soft landscape and planting design

Happy days, Spring is almost here! By Tom

Posted on 28/02/2012 by | Leave a comment

Spring has sprung,
the grass is ris’.
I wonder where the birdies is?
The bird is on the wing,
but that’s absurd.
The wing is surely on the bird!
- Anonymous

Ok, so it’s not spring just yet. It’s a fun little verse though, no matter which version you know, so why not deploy it a touch early…especially when the signs of spring are bursting out all around? Bulbs pushing through the still frosty ground…morning birdsong growing more buoyant by the day…dormant buds tentatively unfurling to test the air…all bringing with them an overwhelming sense of relief that the coldest, darkest days of the seasons are behind us once more and we can look forward to brighter mornings, longer evenings and a curious abundance of chocolate eggs in supermarkets as the coming season shoves its foot in the door and tells winter it’s being evicted.

For Landscape Architects spring can be a real mixture of challenges and pleasures: landscape and visual impact assessments become more difficult as foliage starts to obscure views; Contractors, Clients and Project Managers feel the pressure of finishing planting jobs before the end of the season, often at a time when the weather casually alternates between too cold and too wet.

But it’s wonderful to watch the landscape leaf up, a lush patchwork quilt nestling over the land, draping town and country alike in green until they resemble the landscape masterplans found on our drawing boards. It’s always exciting to see dormant planting designs come to life, gradually punctuated with vivid interruptions of colour which constantly change as the months pass.

It’s invigorating to become spurred on by the approach of summer, filled with the promise of landscapes brimming with life as everyone makes the most of the warmest months of the year. Every season has something to offer, but many would agree that spring has the most potential to be uplifting. A new beginning. A fresh start.

Let’s try to pause now and again, look around, take in the opening buds, the brave little bulbs, the cheerful birdsong, and enjoy the onset of the new season and all the promise it holds, looking forward to the rest of the year. Oh, and if you time it right, discounted chocolate eggs.

Not quite time yet, but we're ready and waiting

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Posted in Environmental Impact Assessment, Landscape Architect, Landscape Architects, Rural Landscapes, Soft landscape and planting design, Terra Firma Team

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Is landscape a matter of fashion? – By Ramune

Posted on 15/02/2012 by | Leave a comment

I have just come back from the Netherlands where I visited Van Den Berk tree nurseries to choose and tag some semi-mature trees for a project we have in Hertfordshire.  Something of a circulatory in all of this being one of the last projects I shall put on the ground for Terra Firma before returning to Lithuania (and more about that another time). When I first started here 8 years ago Lionel was keen I obtained some practical horticultural experience to compliment my architectural degree and referred me to Hilliers where I worked Part Time in their big tree nursery while also starting at Terra Firma. So I am very familiar with the large tree transplanting process and how very satisfying  it is! Continue reading →

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Posted in Innovative planting, International Landscape Architecture, Landscape Architect, Soft landscape and planting design, Tree nursery

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A tricky question?

Posted on 17/11/2011 by | Leave a comment

Who benefits the most from direct plant supply? Client, nursery, contractor or landscape architect?

We have been working as term landscape architecture consultants for over a year now for Churchill Retirement Living (CRL), one of the leading providers in the retirement sector. Since our involvement from September 2010, we have 5 projects already built, planted and occupied, and upwards of 25 projects on the books. We provide CRL with a consultancy service from pre-planning application, through landscape strategy and detailed planting design to overseeing implementation on site and into the establishment period.

Completed planting scheme for Elgar Lodge, Churchill's Malvern development

As you would imagine CRL run a tight ship, with customer satisfaction, smooth working processes and profitability all high on the agenda. With the latter two in mind, Terra Firma have suggested, and set up, a direct plant supply agreement with Hillier Nurseries.

Benefits? For the client; the obvious money saving without the implementing landscape contractor’s mark-up and the promise of a far better guarantee in consistency of quality of plant stock. Continue reading →

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Posted in Landscape Architects, Residential landscape, Soft landscape and planting design, Uncategorized

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