Portfolio by anna_syed

ANNA -

SYED

PORTFOLIO

CONTENTS

LEICESTER

CITY

ECUS

.............................................5-6

LTD.

LANDSCAPE

COUNCIL

................................3-4

ARCHITECTURE

.............................7-10

AYLESTONE MEADOWS

FLOOD ALLEVIATION AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEME

(PHASE 1)

An to

interpretation a local nature

(AutoCAD,

Boardwalk Pond South

board for planned works reserve in Leicester.

Photoshop)

Boardwalk Pond North

1 : 100

This autumn works will take place in the grazing fields west of the River Biam. Three different wetlands will be created; these will hold flood waters in times of heavy rainfall. The creation of these temporary wetlands will provide a greater variety of wildlife habitats. These areas have been grazed in recent years; but this has led to some loss of species rich grassland. New fencing has been installed which should allow for better management of future grazing. Works have been designed to limit disturbance to existing higher value natural areas and to protect the ridge and furrow that is evident in some of the fields. It is also planned that ‘spoil’ material from the new ‘scrapes’ be used to create additional habitats such as bee banks and hibernacula.

Boardwalk Ponds

LW TRA CEN GR

EAT

Contractors are aware of how well used this area is and will behave with respect and care for users of this popular spot.

PEBBLE BEACH

The two wetlands to either side of the main path and boardwalk will be wet for most of the year. The northern one will link to an existing ditch to drain into the nearby watercourse. The southern one will hold flood water and in times of extreme rainfall will flood its surrounding meadow. This will lead to an improved variety of grasses. It will also aid in limiting flooding on nearby paths. The large pond in the field will be lined to hold rain water.

RIV

BIA M

Field Pond

Habitat Areas

Elsewhere in Leicester, ELLIS MEADOWS provides an excellent precedent of what the aims and objectives for this site are. It offers extensive flood alleviation for the city, open green space and wildlife habitats within an urban environment.

1 : 1500

Drawing Number

HAZARD Notes

Side slopes at 1:5 gradient

NOTE THE PRESENCE OF OVERHEAD HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICITY CABLES AND ADOPT SAFE WORKING PRACTICES WITH ADEQUATE CLEARANCE

Pond base to be set at 55.00m. Ground investigation indicates topsoil/ sand above 56.10m. This excavated material is to be taken to spoil deposition area. Ground investigation indicates heavy clay below 56.10m This clay material is to be used to line scrape 1 (field pond). Materials to be reviewed on site with client during excavation to agree suitability for pond lining.

clay

Expected water level after works between 55.90 and 56.10m

Proposed contours Existing ground levels

1:200

Notes Estimated excavation volume 398m3 of which approximately 158m3 clay based on ground investigation (no bulking factor applied) Setting out to be agreed on site with the client prior to excavation. The appointed contractor MUST undertake appropriate checks for the presence of services (gas, water, electricity, telecoms etc) before commencing work. Should any unexpected services be found, the contractor MUST consult with Leicester City Council and the owner of the apparatus to agree the appropriate way forward before commencing work.

HAZARD- APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF UNDERGROUND MEDIUM PRESSURE GAS MAIN. DAMAGE DUE TO VEHICLE MOVEMENTS MUST BE AVOIDED. APPROXIMATE 6 METRE NO DIG ZONE INDICATED IN YELLOW CROSS HATCH

Revision

Amendment

Date

Leicester Scrape 2: Boardwalk Pond South

55.00m 55.25m 55.50m 55.75m 56.00m 56.25m

City Council

Planning, development and transportation .

56.50m 56.75m

CLIENT

Leicester City Council Existing general ground level approx 56.75m. Pond perimeter to be blended to existing surrounding ground levels

HAZARD- OVERHEAD CABLES SAFE WORKING PRACTICES MUST BE ADOPTED

Technical plan earthworks for Leicester.

and the

TITLE

AYLESTONE MEADOWS Scrape 2: Boardwalk pond south

section showing planned local nature reserve in

Plan and long section

(AutoCAD)

DRAWING No.

REV

AYLESTONE/004

1:500

HAZARD- OVERHEAD CABLES SAFE WORKING PRACTICES MUST BE ADOPTED

HAZARD- OVERHEAD CABLES SAFE WORKING PRACTICES MUST BE ADOPTED Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database rights 2019 Ordnance Survey 0100031673

DRAWN BY

AS/JV

B DATE

CHECKED

SIZE

ACAD FILE

UPRN

SCALE

varies 19 April 2019 A3

A strategy plan for a care home using dementia friendly design principles. (BricsCAD,

Photoshop,

InDesign)

PLANTING STRATEGY

Planting Strategy - General • Trees provide structure, scale, shelter and seasonal interest • Hedges provide definition, structure and privacy • Shrubs and herbaceous plants provide colour, texture and seasonal interest • Lawn gives flexible space for outdoor activities • Species selected for their location and purpose, with shade tolerant species used where necessary

Planting Strategy - Trees • Form, scale and seasonal interest • Provides vertical accents and sense of hierarchy • Species selected for their growth habit, size, and year round interest

Planting Strategy - Shrubs and herbaceous • Colour, texture and seasonal interest • Species selected for their performance and year round interest • Nectar producing shrubs and hedges to boost local biodiversity • Hedges and shrubs used to provide structure, privacy and definition

Planting Strategy - Sensory Planting • Sight, sound, touch and smell • Colour and texture to engage and provide interest • Scented planted encircles seating area • Includes fragrant climbers along the pergola

Planting Strategy - Shade Tolerant Planting • Lush shade tolerant plants to be used within courtyards and where necessary • Bold foliage with varied texture and leaf sizes provide visual interest

PRECEDENT IMAGES

Bird Table Boosts biodiversity. Provides a focal point of interest for residents.

Raised Planters Accessible timber raised planters, provide visual interest, definition and structure (above). Gardening Accessible, social activity for all (left).

Aviary / Rabbit Hutch Social activity and point of interest (left). Play Features Hopskotch to allow for infomal play and provide interactive features for all ages, and socialising space for residents and visitors.

Cycle Shelter Pergola Shelter provides Planted with climbers for dappled shade. Provides practical shelter for all year round relaxation. spaces for cycle Seating storage for both Comfortable residents & seating in visitors. convenient places for resting & contemplating

Focal Points Bird feeding stations and bird baths provide focal points, sensory elements and aid wayfinding.

Planting Strategy - Wildflower Meadow • Provides colourful seasonal mixes • Species provide a rich biodiversity and seasonal interest

1. -

Main Entrance Vehicular entrance with access to hotel hub drop-off and underground car parking. Pedestrian link and bus stop at existing entrance will include flowering trees rowan and whitebeam with native shrub understorey. Large canopy native trees planted as semi-mature trees for instant impact to enhance approach. Multi-stemmed birch with some rowan, juniper and occasional aspen form a natural arrangement alongside the access road. A group of Irish yew and native shrub mix including dogwood and guelder rose are located closer to the hotel building. Rocky outcrops/boulders sit on and within the ground amongst the trees. Native meadow grassland mix and wildflowers form the groundcover beneath trees. Boundary tree mix including small leaved lime, sessile oak and wych elm

2. -

North East Boundary Early mature mixed woodland of mainly larch. Interplant gaps with individual native trees including oak and lime. Repair and restore dry stone wall boundary.

3. -

North West Boundary Supplementary planting to soften views of the development with large canopy tree mix including oak, lime and birch with occasional beech, aspen, yew and Scot's pine. Evergreen underplanting including holly. Drystone boundary wall retained and repaired as necessary.

4. -

West Boundary Existing trees retained for landscape and amenity value. Supplementary planting within site with denser trees along the boundary, graduating to less dense and more scattered trees close to the hotel. Species to include rowan, whitebeam and scattered downy birch close to the hotel. Bigger trees, including oak and lime on boundary, with occasional Scot's pine.

5. -

South West Boundary Existing trees retained for landscape and amenity value. Assess works required to improve condition of dry stone wall. Some supplementary planting within site with semi-mature limes, woodland edge and native shrub understorey to further soften views of development. Understorey and coppice to north of woodland. Defensive planting will be planted around the clumps of old trees to restrict access and improve habitat potential.

6. -

7. 8. -

9. -

. -

10. -

11. -

Hotel and Terrace Hotel sensitively designed to fit within the landscape. Green roof designed with meadow roofs that will recreate vegetation types similar to important local grassland communities for landscape character and biodiversity enhancement. Outdoor pool on terrace with planting to screen views from dining area. External paved terrace and bound gravel connecting paths. Semi-native and some ornamental planting will be associated with the external terrace for sensory interest, privacy, break up spaces and to provide shelter/ windbreak. This planting would incorporate species with nectar, pollen, fruit and seeds which will provide a resource for wildlife. Dry stone walls define landscape areas and some walls planted informally with a variety of plants. Some walls to incorporate timber seating. Rain gardens and use of rocks and gravel within low level native and ornamental mix planting areas to complement stone detailing of building. Ecotones between grasses and gravels and stone wall refuges will attract invertebrates. Open paved area on terrace which could be used for gatherings and an area of reinforced grass next to the terrace for picnics and activities. Single Storey Lodges Semi-private rear gardens and patios enclosed by dry stone walls. Some dry stone walls planted informally with a variety of plants. Gravel gardens to frontages. Bound gravel connecting paths - sympathetic to rural context. Open Landscape Large open space central to the site to allow for flexible use and views across the site. Fenced field to be grazed with a ha-ha to the west boundary of the field to allow for unobstructed views. Hedges and native shrub blocks next to the fence will break up the fencing and help to enclose the adjacent wildlife area. Further hedges provide valuable screening. Large canopied field trees to be planted individually to create future 'heritage' trees. East Boundary Plantation Woodland belt thickened and supplemented with native woodland edge mix to extend into the site creating a more natural sinuous edge to integrate with wider landscape character. Create natural habitat transitions from existing woodland to new woodland, to woodland edge and NVC field layer. Thin trees to benefit better individuals and ensure climate resilience. Retain better quality larch for screening value. To be determined on Site by Project Arboriculturist/ Landscape Architect. Management to encourage varying lengths of grass to create grassland ecotones. Promote natural regeneration of species rich grassland and enhance as a wildlife corridor. Wildlife Area New wetland habitat to be fed by run off from the hillside to the south of the site. This area will include open water, marginal and inundation habitats with planting to complement species typical to the local area and native to the Yorkshire Dales. The wetland will provide valuable habitat for invertebrates, and in turn birds and bats, in addition to amphibians and reptiles (where locally present). Creation of a wildlife pond, to include a deep zone at 1.5m depth and gently sloping sides for safety and planting with marginal vegetation. A boardwalk will be located along one side of the wetland area. It will be raised from the ground to allow for vegetation underneath to be undamaged whilst allowing people to still enjoy and see the wildlife around the wetland area. It will be fully accessible with viewing platforms and include interpretation boards with information about species and the wetland structure, habitat creation and the former use of the site. Managed natural grassland/ species rich grassland and native shrubs / trees to enhance as a wildlfie habitat. Deadwood habitat piles (log piles) to be created from specimens felled within the Site and rockeries will both create areas of refuge for reptiles and amphibians. A bespoke barn designed for bats and barn owls with bat, barn owl and swallow access points. Timber joists and beams for roosting bats, natural gaps left for bats under and above lintels and between stone bricks. Bat crevice boxes included inside and outside of the building. Barn dimensions to be at least 4x4x4m. South Boundary Plantation Supplement plant with native woodland edge mix. Restructure to more natural shape, possible selective thinning and felling over time to create a number of small glades. Heritage interpretation space at pedestrian access point including seating and information boards. The boards will relate to the history of the site and the Scheduled Monument to the south of the site on the hillside.

strategy

(BricsCAD,

plan

for

InDesign,

proposed

eco-friendly

retreat.

Photoshop 6

bespoke

(AutoCAD,

planting InDesign,

plan

for

Photoshop,

redesign

Crookes

Valley

Park,

Sheffield.

hand-drawing)

MODEL

MODEL PHOTOS Woodland

An experimental Heeley Station, (InDesign,

masterplan Sheffield.

Photoshop,

for

the

hand-drawing,

regeneration model

The model was constructed using tracing paper, balsa wood, honey comb paper, tissue paper, paper remnants from the collage exercise and crocheted wool. I started by laying out elements in a process similar to the collage exercise. Once I was happy with the layout of the urban form and tree typologies, I started to build up to the heights of the proposed blocks and trees. I also modelled the bridge more accurately to get a sense of what sense of space the proposed trees surrounding the station area would create.

of Proposed Blocks

making)

FINAL TYPOLOGIES Woodland Grove Thicket -

Grove Dominant (70-90%) Subdominant (10-30%) Occasional (1-5%)

Linear network of woodlands to establish distinct connection through the site. Thickets to provide privacy and aid direction towards the public areas. Groves act as meeting points or places of rest within the density of the other typologies.

DETAIL EXPLORATIONS

River Sheaf

Existing Trees

URBAN FORM ITERATIONS The proposed blocks are arranged to ensure sufficient density and privacy, yet still allow for legible movement around the site. The two linear blocks north of the station are intended to be for public retail or leisure use, arranged to be accessed and visible from all sides. Below, are some initial ideas I explored.

Railway

Thicket Existing Roads 2

2. Heeley Station

1. Industrial use

3. Public house

1:500 at A1

SECTIONS River recovery is encouraged through the species selection along the river banks and the creation of a more engaging waterfront. Active connections are enabled with accessible levels and distinguishable surfaces which aid and encourage movement and stopping.

Woodland (wet)

Trees are illustrated as well established in spring.

Woodland Woodland

Grove / Avenue Thicket

Grove

Betula pubescens (Downy Birch)

Acer campestre (Field Maple)

Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn)

Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea (Copper Beech)

Quercus palustris (Pin Oak) Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum)

1 2

RETAIL

RESIDENTIAL

STATION

PUB

1:50 at A1

Resin bound gravel for this highly trafficked path.

Permeable paving slabs.

Salix caprea (Goat Willow)

Rosa Canina (Dog Rose) Cobbled paving with tree pits for places of rest.

Bark mulch to discourage too much straying from the main paths, but still allowing exploration.

Woodland (wet)

Thicket

Ballerup Boulevard, Denmark, Copenhagen, By Marianne Levinsen Landskab (2018). This design is effective in how different surfaces and lanes are allocated for differ uses. This has inspired how I have designed the avenue spaces above and the road layout in the axonometric. Spaces are designated but not harshly separated.

Passeig De St Joan Boulevard, Barcelona, Spain. By Lola Domenech (2011). This surface design is unusual in that it incorporated both hard and soft landscapes elements to provide an easily maintained surface. Grass and paving are combined to provide a legible yet visually engaging surface.

A section illustrating tree typologies and surfaces for for the regeneration of Heeley Station, Sheffield. (InDesign,

Photoshop,

hand-drawing)

TREE HEIGHT OVER TIME

Main avenue created with pin oaks to provide a legible route between the Heeley Railway Station and Heeley Peoples Park and beyond. Secondary avenue to the right to allow for engagement with shop frontages. Secondary avenue to the left is bounded by a thicket to create a more enclosed and semi-private view for residential block entrances. Cobbled surfaces further define routes and spatial use with rest points incorporated.

Existing pub canopy provides the setting for a more user friendly water front. Linear surfacing draws people in from the road beyond. Liquidambar trees create all round colour interest. The bank is shown planted for a more naturalistic and habitat friendly edge. The woodland to the right provides visual interest for those sitting on the opposite side of the river. It also provides a more informal, exploratory setting

Steps lead from one side of the station up towards a seating area and the main path which leads to the platform. The woodland is accessible but a boundary wall is proposed to the right to stop people accessing the river directly. Deciduous trees have been chosen to provide year round interest and to ensure the path does not feel too oppressive on dark, winter evenings.

Trees are listed by typology as follows; thicket, grove/avenue and woodland. Height is shown in metres.

ECOLOGICAL VALUE

I aimed to select trees that had both visual and ecological impact. As shown, the ornamental trees selected for the grove typologies have less ecological value, but the species selected for the thicket and woodland typologies offer greater benefits to wildlife due to their proposed density.

A transformative maintenance Weston Park, Sheffield. (Photoshop,

plan

for

area

Maintenance Goals for Year 1

When?

Actions to be undertaken?

Equipment Required?

Applied to where?

Approximate Cost of Action? In hours of labour per 100m2

Indesign)

Total labour for this action per year in hours

Goals for area (a) Ensure grass is suitable for walking upon, Once a month year round.

Mow area to a length of approximately 60mm (slightly longer than standard to ensure more durability). Leave cuttings in situ.

Gang mower.

Area (a), maintain approximately 2m width for mown paths.

0.5

Achieve low lying, diverse structure for insect invertebrate habitat.

Retain weeds (e.g. Cerastium vulgatum) and bare soil patches that occur.

Area (a)

Ensure edges to this area type are kept defined to mitigate public perceptions of areas (b) and (c).

Once a month

Review edges and remove by hand any establishing seedling Gloves and knee pads. species not belonging to area (a) that are encroaching from areas (b) and (c). Low lying weeds and overhanging vegetation is fine to retain.

Area (a), anything within 300mm from the edges of area (a).

0.75

Make obvious that this is part of a public recreation opportunity.

February of Year 1

Install signage that describes the intentions for the future maintenance goals of this area.

See red dots on Figure 1.

7.5 (1 working day)

Establish suitable ground conditions to achieve the below.

October of Year 0

Strip turf and topsoil to a suitable depth as to reveal subsoil. Dust Small excavator and with grade crushed concrete and rotovate surface. Preparing site rotovator. reduces nutrient levels and prevents existing Lolium perenne from dominating before any seed mix can establish. (Ash, Bennett and Scott, 1992, p.23)

Areas (b) and (c)

1.5

139

Introduce plant species to specifically attract generalist invertebrate species more stable and likely to succeed. (Littlewood, Stewart and Woodcock, 2011, p.5)

October of Year 0

Sow by hand a seed mix comprising of approximately 20% wildflowers and 80% grasses at a rate of 3g p/m2. (CABE Space, 2006, p.31)

Emorsgate General Purpose Meadow Mix or similar

Areas (b) and (c)

0.25

Plant bulbs by hand at 450mm gaps (refer to Key Species table). (Hitchmough, 2009, p.18)

Bulb planter, gloves and knee Area (b), anything pads. within 5m from the edges of area (a).

0.75

March, June, September and December of Year 1

Four cuts of 60mm to ensure species establishment (refer also to Maintenance Goals for Years 2-10).

Compact flail and sweeper.

Areas (b) and (c)

0.5

Establish immediate interest to win over user perception.

October of Year 0

Sow annual seed mix by hand.

Emorsgate Standard Cornfield Mixture or similar

Area (b)

0.26

Mitigate concerns over 'rough' looking grassland and initial stripping of topsoil.

February of Year 0

Install signage that describes the intentions for the future maintenance goals of this area.

Sign post installation similar to Figure 3.

See red dots on Figure 1.

7.5 (1 working day)

Reduce need for irrigation.

Choose grass species which are hardy and drought tolerant (refer to Key Species table).

Ensure areas beneath tree canopies have an equally rich vegetation cover.

Treat areas which are beneath tree and shrub canopies the same, but ensure some shade tolerant species are including in mixes used (refer to Key Species table). (Priyadarshini et al., 2016)

Maintenance Goals for Years 2 - 10

Actions to be undertaken?

Equipment Required?

Applied to where?

Sign post installation similar to Figure 3.

Goals for areas (b) and (c)

Strategic Vision

(Google Earth, 2020)

This report focuses on the grassland in Weston Park. It’s current purpose serves a broad recreational function. Users mainly sit on the grass, or use it as an alternative to the paths to walk through the park. It is well used and accepted as a formal (i.e not naturalistic) urban park space. The current maintenance of Weston Park prioritises user and stakeholder acceptability. Notions of conserving a historic design (regardless of whether or not this is an accurate assumption), and demonstrating ‘cues to care’ (i.e uniformly mown grass) are more important than maintaining the space for ecological benefits, or to invent new human experiences of the space. By suggesting more ‘messy’ maintenance practices, we can challenge what a park in this context is capable of achieving. The amenity grassland is currently successful because there is no known alternative or local precedent of how amenity grassland can be developed. The vision for the next 10 years will entail a regeneration of current maintenance practices. New maintenance will prioritise supporting pollinator invertebrate species which will simultaneously curate a new aesthetic for Weston Park. Grass height, flower colour and seasonal interest will also be achieved through these key aims. This can be tied into learning and engagement opportunities for park users, and to promote better public understanding of urban biodiverse landscape practices in both the short and long term.

((Sheffield Museums, 2018)

This image shows how people use the amenity grassland during the summer months.

Weston Park

(Picture Sheffield, 1897)

Weston Park was designed in 1875 and this plan from 1897 shows how the layout of both the lake and vegeation has changed over the years (in comparison to plans from 2021). This proves that ‘conserving’ the amenity grassland is a misplaced intention.

Continue maintenance goals from Year 1. Establish visual interest throughout the April of Year X seasons - to extend flowering season and December of Year X retain winter structure. (Ash, Bennett and Scott, 1992, p.13)

Creating a matrix is best practice for encouraging a range of invertebrate species (Littlewood, Stewart and Woodcock, 2011, p.5). This will also help user perception (i.e counter the negative associations with a swathe of tall grass) as concepts of feeling peaceful and safe are important factors in formal parks (Özgüner and Kendle, 2006). Refer to Figure 4.

Cut to a length of 70mm, remove cuttings immediately.

December of Year X

Compact flail and sweeper.

Area (b)

0.25

Cut to a length of 70mm. Remove winter cuttings after 3 weeks Compact flail and sweeper. this allows seed rain to establish but will prevent nutrient increases and smothering. (Ash, Bennett and Scott, 1992, p.14)

Area (b)

0.5

Cut back to approximately 70mm.

Area (c) (refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2).

0.25

Compact flail and sweeper.

Figure 2

Key Species

Centaurea nigra, Conopodium majus, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Campanula rotundifolia (Gulliver, 1988).

Bulbs

Allium spp, Narcisus spp, muscari spp, chionodoxa spp, Leucanthemum vulgare (JUB Holland, 2021).

Shade

Ranunculus spp, Primula vulgaris, Filipendula ulmaria,Cardamine pratensis (Crofts and Jefferson, 1999, p.5.7).

Tree / Shrub Area (a) Area (b) Area (c) Signage

Deschampsia cespitosa, Holcus iantus, Festuca rubra, Dactylis glomerata (Frame and Laidlaw, 2011).

Wildflowers

Figure 1

(Ordnance Survey, 2021a)

Achieve varied vegetation height for an optimum pollinator invertebrate habitat. "Leave parts of the site uncut, where appropriate, as refuges for the less mobile species" (Crofts and Jefferson, 1999, p.10.5).

Grasses 3

Goals for areas (b) and (c)

Total labour for this action per year in hours

Goals for area (a)

Annual Maintenance Plan

Approximate Cost of Action? In hours of labour per 100m2

Balancing height with species richness is key to user acceptability when designing for invertebrates (Southon et al., 2017). Installing signage will also be key to managing user perceptions of the new maintenance plan. What is perceived as low maintenance has to be balanced with aesthetic values (Nam and Dempsey, 2019).

When?

Cutting Rota for Area (c) Year

Cut

Sub Area 1

Leave 1

(repeat this 3 year cycle)

Figure 3

(Example signage from the Grey to Green scheme in Sheffield)

Figure 4

(Sketch illustrating varying heights of differently managed areas of the site. Taller grassland is further away from user routes, but still allows for exploration.)