Landscape Journal - Winter 2015 by Landscape, the journal of the Landscape Institute

Landscape The Journal of the Landscape Institute

The awards in full / 25 Natural capital explained / 9 A place to think / 62

Winter 2015

landscapeinstitute.org Landscape Winter 2015

DESIGN TANK PHOTO CHARLOTTE SVERDRUP

Enjoying the outdoors since 1947 2

Landscape Winter 2015

vestre.co.uk

Vestre Stripes Design: Lars TornÃ¸e

Editorial By Ruth Slavid

The strength of knowledge

Photo ©: 1 – Agnese Sanvito

t he start of September, the Walkie Talkie office building in the City of London won the Carbuncle Cup, Building Design’s annual award for the worst new building. Jonathan Jones, art critic with The Guardian, then wrote a piece arguing that it should be demolished. And that shocked me. Not because I love the building, but because demolishing newly finished buildings is just wrong. The amount of embodied energy that goes into making a building is significant and becoming more so, as energy in use is reduced. There are people in the architectural world who make it their business to measure embodied energy and so find ways of reducing it. But what about embodied energy in landscape? This is relatively easy to calculate for hard materials provided that you know where they were sourced and how they were treated and transported. With soft materials it is more difficult. I suppose that you could say that the inputs during their lifetime are equivalent to the in-use inputs in a building, although in the case of a plant this energy goes to keeping the material alive and healthy,

whereas in a building it is (at the extreme), keeping the occupants alive and healthy. However the sums work, it is indisputable that throwing good material away is wasteful. That is why it is so useful to have Keith Sacre’s article explaining why trees need to be pruned differently once they have left the nursery, and how to set about that process (see page 69). If the pruning is not done correctly at an early stage, he explains, there will be problems later that will make drastic action necessary, possibly even replacing the tree. This is a huge waste of expenditure, effort and, crucially, embodied energy as well as resulting in a loss of amenity. Knowledge is the route to avoiding these problems. It is knowledge of a different sort that Jenifer White of Natural England wants to share (see page 19). She believes both that greater understanding of historic landscapes will improve the practice of landscape professionals today and, cheeringly, that the skills that landscape architects can bring to interacting with the planning system are underrated. We can hardly expect that every tree and every piece of hard landscape from Victorian times will survive, but by engaging with the historic environment we should be able to make savings in landscape materials – and in embodied energy. If we struggle to realise what we are wasting when we don’t look after our man-made environments, how much more difficult it can be to recognise the value of the natural environment, and the true cost of damaging it. The concept of natural capital is an attempt to bridge that gap by putting an economic value on what previously has not been measured. Landscape professionals are becoming increasingly aware that it is an important approach and one with direct relevance for them, but many struggle to grasp what it means in practice. Fortunately Ece Ozdemiroglu does understand it, and explains it with admirable clarity and concrete examples on page 9. If knowledge is power, then I am feeling a little stronger after reading her piece. I hope that you are too.

Landscape Winter 2015

Landscape Contents

The Journal of the Landscape Institute Publisher Darkhorse Design Ltd 42 Hamilton Square, Birkenhead Wirral, Merseyside. CH41 5BP T 0151 649 9669 www.darkhorsedesign.co.uk Editor Ruth Slavid landscape@darkhorsedesign.co.uk T 020 8265 3319 Editorial advisory panel Tim Waterman, honorary editor David Buck Joe Clancy Edwin Knighton CMLI Amanda McDermott CMLI Peter Sheard CMLI John Stuart Murray FLI Eleanor Trenfield CMLI Jo Watkins PPLI Jenifer White CMLI Jill White CMLI Landscape Institute president Noel Farrer PLI

Regulars Editorial

The strength of knowledge

City slicker

Features

Bigger picture News Analysis

Working with natural capital

Technical

Pruning in the landscape

A word

‘Seedling’

Landscape Institute CEO Phil Mulligan To comment on any aspect of Landscape Institute communications please contact: Paul Lincoln, deputy CEO paull@landscapeinstitute.org

As a professional body and educational charity, it works to protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built environment for the public benefit. ––– Landscape is printed on FSC paper obtained from a sustainable and well managed source, using environmentally friendly vegetable oil based ink. The views expressed in this journal are those of the contributors and advertisers and not necessarily those of the Landscape Institute, Darkhorse or the Editorial Advisory Panel. While every effort has been made to check the accuracy and validity of the information given in this publication, neither the Institute nor the Publisher accept any responsibility for the subsequent use of this information, for any errors or omissions that it may contain, or for any misunderstandings arising from it.

Landscape Winter 2015

Correction The online version of the article that appeared in the last issue ‘Above its station’ has been updated to provide a correct account of Growth Industry’s involvement in the Crossrail Station Roof Garden project. Due to the technical complexities of the project, Gillespies appointed independent landscape architects and planting specialists Growth Industry to undertake the planting scheme design. The conceptual design narrative for the garden, which draws inspiration from the history of the docks, the works of early plant collectors and the analogy of plant laden ships with a Wardian case was the work of Growth Industry, not Gillespies as stated in the article. Growth Industry was not involved throughout the project as suggested nor was it responsible for the final implemented scheme. Gillespies would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any confusion this article may have caused, and to thank Growth Industry for its contribution to the project.

Celebrating our heritage Landscape professionals play a great role in the work of Historic England, the new body that was set up on 1 April this year.

Photo ©: 1 – Historic England / James O Davies

––– Follow the Landscape Institute on twitter: @talklandscape Advertising, subscription and membership enquiries: www.landscapeinstitute.org/contact ––– The Landscape Institute is the royal chartered institute for landscape architects.

A place to think

Photo ©: 2 – OOBE 3 – Grant Smith 4 – Sarah Blee / J & L Gibbons 5 – Arup 6 – BCA Landscpae

Landscape Institute Awards 2015

The Garden of Reflection in Wells combines cutting edge concrete technology with some decidedly old-fashioned planting to create a special and contemplative place.

We show all the category winners and all the highly commended projects, and of course the winner of the much sought-after President’s Award. 4

Landscape The Journal of the Landscape Institute

The awards in full / 25 Natural capital explained / 9 A place to think / 62

Winter 2015

landscapeinstitute.org Landscape Winter 2015

Cover image – Landscape Institute Awards 2015

Landscape Winter 2015

Bigger Picture By Ruth Slavid

City slicker

ildlife photographer Sam Hobson photographed this toad not in the countryside but in the city of Bristol. Apparently the toads make an annual migration in the spring and can often be seen in the city centre. His photo appeared in an exhibition at the Bristol Architecture Centre entitled ‘Nature’, in a section curated by Avon Wildlife Trust. The exhibition is one of five to run this year under the banner City Ideas Studio, addressing the five themes that Bristol has selected in its role as 2015 European Green City. The architecture centre is looking in particular at how each of the themes relates to the built environment. The others are: food, transport, resources and energy. With the exhibition on nature it explored the question, ‘How can we make space for a nature-rich landscape in the city?’ Each exhibition is a collection of responses from a range of organisations, so that the architecture centre is bringing together the ideas of others rather than imposing its own angle. Information from each exhibition and, where appropriate, from earlier exhibitions, is available on a giant screen at the centre. At the end of the year, the architecture centre will pull together the ideas from each of the exhibitions and create a manifesto for the city’s built environment – by which time, another migration of toads should be due. 6

Landscape Winter 2015

Image ©: – Sam Hobson

Landscape Winter 2015

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News Analysis By Ece Ozdemiroglu

Working with natural capital Natural capital is a term that is becoming increasingly prevalent, in part due to the existence of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Natural Capital Committee. But what does it really mean, and what is its significance for landscape professionals? assets is a vital step to addressing this imbalance. In England, around two-thirds of the total land area is privately owned (NCC, 2014a). If land-owning organisations alone can be encouraged to take more formal account of their natural capital, then there is an opportunity that the full value of natural resources will be considered more explicitly in important business decisions. Landscape architects already influence such decisions. Adapting a natural-capital way of thinking could better enable them to incorporate considerations about quality, quantity and benefits of natural capital into their design work and communicate them to different stakeholders.

Understanding the benefits of natural capital There is a disconnect between our appreciation and understanding of the overall importance of nature in the absolute (e.g. we all like a good view), and our understanding of the marginal (i.e. additional / unit) impacts of our actions on nature. For example, we are not very good at balancing the time-saving benefits of a new road with its impact on the landscape. A natural capital asset check (or register) is one way of making natural assets and their benefits explicit. This is a catalogue of the significant assets owned by the organisation, which includes data on the asset extent, condition, services and benefits delivered.

Figure 1: Natural capital assets and benefits

Natural Capital

Natural Capital Benefits

Food Ecological communities

Fibre (eg timber)

Soils

Energy

Freshwaters Land

Fresh water Ecosystem service flows

Clean air

Minerals

Climate regulation

Atmosphere

Recreation

Subsoil assets Oceans

Inputs from other capital

h e Natural Capital Committee has defined natural capital as: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The elements of nature that directly and indirectly produce value or benefits to people, including ecosystems, species, freshwater, land, minerals, the air and oceans, as well as natural processes and functionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (NCC, 2014a). In other words, natural capital includes ecosystems, biodiversity and all sub-soil, abiotic resources such as fuels and minerals. This definition represents the natural environment as a capital asset, i.e. something that has the productive capacity to generate value, in terms of the benefits that we derive from it. Some of these benefits are already traded in markets and accounted for in financial accounts (for example, the value of timber from a forest) and some are not (for example, the informal recreational opportunities, amenity benefits, and flood-prevention functions of a woodland). Some natural capital benefits are produced with input from other types of capital, such as: humanmade capital, like grey infrastructure; human capital, in the form of an educated work force; and social capital that maintains the rules, rights and limits. For example, the water-filtration benefits of upland bog can only be realised if there is a substantial human-made infrastructure for water collection and distribution. Figure 1 shows some types of natural capital assets and their benefits. The importance of natural resources is often overlooked in decision-making, typically because the full range of their benefits and value, or the costs of their decline, are not as visible as their financial (accounted for) costs and benefits. Understanding, valuing and accounting for natural capital in terms that are comparable to other capital

Amenity Biodiversity / conservation

Landscape Winter 2015

News Analysis

1– Conventional financial accounting sees parks as a liability, rather than the asset that they actually are. Seen here is LUC’s restoration of Brockwell Park in London, highly commended in last year’s LI Awards.

Example – Natural Capital Asset Check

A Natural Capital Asset Check asks three basic questions about natural resources: • What forms of natural capital do we have? • What benefits do they produce? • Are they being used sustainably? By asking these questions in a structured way it is possible to reveal how much we depend on natural capital and whether it is being managed sustainably. Applied to Surrey, this approach highlighted the role that green space plays in providing the high quality of life enjoyed in the county and its importance to the local economy. Evidence included: • Its role in making the county attractive to businesses and employees; and • An evaluation of the considerable health and welfare benefits derived by local residents. The results included three key examples:

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1. Although Surrey is one of the best endowed counties in England for quality green space, its distribution is uneven. A case was made to improve green space provision for the more deprived areas, based on reduced health costs and improved workforce participation. This insight was seen as an important theme for future development and investment in the county. 2. There were severe floods in the Wey Valley in 2013. The Wey Valley asset check exposed the potential increase in flood risk if urban development occurred without proper consideration for the maintenance of the flood risk benefits of natural capital. The study suggested that the increased flood risks from urban development could be countered by the maintenance and creation of appropriate land cover in targeted areas. 3. Surrey is the most wooded county in England (22% land cover). However, an evaluation of Surrey’s woodland revealed that the non-market

benefits were an order of magnitude greater than the market value of timber production. These nonmarket benefits included: recreation for visitors and local residents, air quality regulation (especially removal of particulate pollution) and carbon sequestration. These three examples illustrated the degree to which a thriving economy depends upon a healthy and wellfunctioning natural environment. They were used to help make the case for improved management of natural capital and to demonstrate the importance of linking economic development to careful planning for the natural environment. They were also a powerful device for communicating the benefits of natural capital to a diverse range of stakeholders. This work was conducted for Surrey Nature Partnership, in support of its Valuing Surrey project. www.surreynaturepartnership.org. uk/projects/

Image ©: 1 – LUC

Understanding the natural capital in Surrey

Image ©: 2 – Jim Stephenson 3, 4 – Julian Jones

2 – For the first time we may be able to put a value on this type of contemplation. Seen here is Wandle Park in Croydon by LDA Design, highly commended in the 2014 LI Awards. 3, 4 – Woodland’s benefits are not only for commercial exploitation, but also recreation and regulation of air quality.

Valuing natural capital ‘Value’ has different meanings in different contexts and disciplines. In economics, what individuals prefer is what they value. In turn, individuals value what they benefit from (or believe they do). There are many reasons why individuals may prefer to protect a natural capital asset – some are related to individuals’ own self-interest while others relate to the implications on other individuals (now or in the future). These motivations are organised into the Total Economic Value typology: • Use values – direct and indirect uses people make of a natural capital asset now and may do in the future; and • Non-use value – preferences to protect a natural capital asset for the benefit of others who are using it now (altruistic value), for future generations (bequest value) and for its own sake (existence value).

Economic analysis does not make a judgement about which motivation is more ‘valuable’. Relative values are measured by looking at what individuals are willing to give up for the thing they value – the more they are willing to give up, the more valuable the thing is. Where what’s given up is money

(or expressed in monetary terms), economic value has the advantage of comparing like with like: financial and other costs and benefits of maintaining natural capital assets. Data for measuring the value of natural capital could come from observing consumer behaviour, for natural capital goods and services that are bought and sold in markets. Alternatively, we could observe consumer behaviour in related markets. For example, we could look at how much people spend to travel to recreational sites and use this spending as a proxy for the value of the site; based on the assumption that people must benefit at least as much as they spend, otherwise they would not visit. Finally, where there are no known or related markets, we could ask individuals to state their preferences. There is a large and growing international literature that presents economic value estimates for many natural capital assets using these different types of data. Finally, the economic value of a natural capital asset is about the value of marginal changes (increase or decrease) in the quality and/or quantity of the asset. It is not about the absolute value of the asset. The values are also context and location specific, influenced by: environmental factors (which capital asset, of what quantity and quality); benefits (e.g. what kind of ecosystem goods and services) and characteristics of the beneficiaries (e.g. socio-economic characteristics of the affected population). Landscape Winter 2015 11

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News Analysis 5, 6 – Intertidal habitat creation can achieve aims set out in shoreline management plans.

Example – using economic valuation Natural Capital Committee – investment priorities The third State of Natural Capital report by the NCC highlighted the case for investing in natural capital. Based on the ‘value chains’ approach (understanding, measurement and valuation of multiple benefits, beneficiaries and [opportunity] costs of investments), the following areas of priority investments are recommended (NCC, 2015):

Image ©: 5, 6 – Julian Jones

• Woodland planting of up to 250,000 additional hectares. Located near towns and cities, such areas can generate net societal benefits in excess of £500 million per annum; •P eatland restoration on around 140,000 hectares in upland areas. This would deliver net benefits of £570 million over 40 years in carbon values alone. Further work is needed to determine water quality, recreation and wildlife values. Including these will significantly increase the net benefits of such investments; • Wetland creation on around 100,000 hectares, particularly in areas of suitable hydrology, upstream of

6 1

Management Plans. These areas provide a wide range of benefits including: coastal flood protection, and can reduce costs of maintaining concrete defences; carbon storage; areas for wildlife; and the provision of nursery grounds for important commercial fish stocks. 5

major towns and cities, and avoiding areas of high grade agricultural land. Benefits cost ratios of 3:1 would be typical, but up to 9:1 are possible in some cases; • Restoring commercial fish stocks, particularly white fish (like cod) and shellfish, which remain considerably below optimal levels. We recognise that reducing the level of fishing effort to allow these stocks to recover will have short-term impacts on the fishing industry, but the long-term gains are potentially large, securing jobs in the industry for generations to come. Investing in measures to restore certain stocks of shellfish could deliver benefit cost ratios in excess of 6:1; and • Intertidal habitat creation to meet objectives set out in Shoreline

Finally, the NCC reported the potential for high return investment opportunities in: • Urban greenspaces which can provide enormous recreation values, benefiting millions of people in our towns and cities. They also offer significant potential for improvements in physical and mental health which in turn will reduce health expenditures and improve labour productivity. Reduced health treatment costs alone of £2.1 billion have been estimated; • Urban air quality is the top environmental risk factor for premature deaths in Europe. It causes an estimated 40,000 premature deaths a year and reduces productivity, which together costs the economy at least £20 billion per annum. It also has a significant negative impact on life prospects for children (e.g. by lowering educational achievement); and • Improving the environmental performance of farming. Farming is an important sector of the economy but its impacts on natural capital are also substantial. Addressing these impacts would deliver significant benefits for society. Channelling subsidies towards environmental schemes that demonstrate good economic returns would be very worthwhile. Also, investing in measures to connect wildlife areas across farming landscapes, as set out in the Lawton Review, will significantly increase net benefits to wildlife from these areas1.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_datafile/218690/201009space-for-nature.pdf

Landscape Winter 2015 13

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News Analysis

7 – The NCC reported that there would be assets from improving the environmental performance of farming. 8 – Connecting wildlife areas will bring benefits.

Accounting for natural capital Organisations assess the value of their assets through conventional financial accounting processes. These include balance sheets that summarise the assets and liabilities that the company holds, and profit and loss accounts that record flows of values in an accounting period. This basic information underpins multiple decisions in an organisation, such as knowing when funds will be required for maintenance and improvement, and how to capitalise on increasing the value of their assets. Most of the natural capital benefits do not appear in financial accounts. Shortcomings of financial accounting are demonstrated quite clearly in the way that parks are treated in local authority accounts. The park is the physical asset. It gives rise to a liability via the cost of maintaining the park

for public use year on year. This is shown in the financial accounts of the local authority as a cost. The park also generates recreational value, but this is not recorded financially, as entry to the park is free. Financial accounts therefore register nothing for this element of asset value of the park, or a notional value of £1. The actual value to the users and wider society is of course much higher than this, but is not visible in the financial accounts and would be hard to articulate in decision-making. Corporate Natural Capital Accounting (CNCA) is designed to address this missing information.

Image ©: 7, 8 – Julian Jones

Natural Capital Committee (NCC)

The NCC was established in 2012 with the remit to provide independent advice to the Government on the sustainable use of England’s natural capital. The committee’s first State of Natural Capital report, published in April 2013, presented evidence that significant economic and wellbeing benefits can be secured through improved management of natural capital (NCC, 2013). In March 2014, the second report highlighted that natural capital is not being used sustainably and that the benefits that are derived from it are at risk. The committee proposed that a long-term restoration plan is necessary to maintain and improve natural capital in order to secure its benefits for the long-term (NCC, 2014b). The third report (NCC, 2015) recommended that the government encourage the use of Corporate Natural Capital Accounting (CNCA) as a means of managing natural capital sustainably.

CNCA is a framework that collates natural capital information in a similar way to other capital assets2. It records the benefit to both the organisation that owns the natural capital asset and to society, by answering four key questions: • What natural capital assets does the organisation, own, manage, or is responsible for? • What flows of benefits do those assets produce, for the organisation and wider society? • What is the value of those benefits? • What does it cost to maintain the natural assets and flows of benefits?

8 2

eveloped by a consortium of Economics for the Environment Consultancy (eftec), PwC and the D Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) for the Natural Capital Committee: full report eftec et al. (2015) ‘Developing Corporate Natural Capital Accounts’ are available at: http://www. naturalcapitalcommittee.org/corporate-natural-capital-accounting.html

Landscape Winter 2015 15

News Analysis

Example – Corporate Natural Capital Accounts

The National Trust – Wimpole Estate

The range of benefits included farm income, visitor revenue, recreation, wildlife and carbon sequestration.

Wimpole is a 1,200 ha historic estate and important visitor attraction in Cambridgeshire, consisting of parkland, farmland and semi-ancient SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) woodland. Due to poor soil quality, the lowland arable farm had recently been taken in-hand by the National Trust and undergone changes in farming practices, moving from conventional arable farming to organic cropping and Higher Level Stewardship (HLS). The CNCA framework was used to measure and report the overall change in natural capital value arising from this change. The National Trust piloted CNCA to investigate a new way of recording what natural assets are owned by the trust and the relative costs and benefits that flow from their management. This exploration provided three benefits: 1. A new way of communicating with trustees, staff and supporters about

Comparing the current organic regime to the previous intensive arable practice demonstrated that despite the reduction in crop yields, the overall income was about the same. More importantly, there were significant (non-market) benefits through increases in soil carbon sequestration, higher recreational benefits and improvements to biodiversity. Taking these additional benefits into account meant that the overall return on investment was much greater than recognised in conventional financial accounts. This was also a simple way of communicating the multiple benefits of the estate to conservation staff, business managers and to external stakeholders. Below is a simplified balance sheet from the CNCA pilot account for the estate. Assets are valued as the expected flow of future benefits based on the existing

NT Wimpole Estate

Balance Sheet – year end 2013

RENEWABLES Private £m External £m

TOTAL Value £m

ASSETS Baseline value (2008) 14 12 26 Cumulative gains / (losses) 2 4 6 Additions / (disposals) 2 2 4 Gross asset value 18 18 36 LIABILITIES Maintenance provisions (4) (2) (6) TOTAL NET NATURAL CAPITAL

16 Landscape Winter 2015

condition of the natural capital. Liabilities are evaluated as the expected flow of future costs of maintaining the condition and benefits of the natural capital in perpetuity. All values are discounted to bring the expected costs and benefits into present value terms. In this way the overall asset values and their associated maintenance costs can be presented to highlight the net natural capital of the organisation. The format separately discloses private value (to the organisation) and external value (to all external beneficiaries). This reveals the pattern of flow of natural capital benefits, which provides useful insights into important stakeholders and opportunities for greater benefits realisation. This example provides further asset detail in terms of an original baseline value (in 2008), plus increases in asset value due to improved natural capital condition and some additions (due to the acquisition of more farmland into the in-hand estate). References eftec (2015) The Economic Case for Investment in Natural Capital in England, available at: http://www. naturalcapitalcommittee.org/investing-innatural-capital.html eftec, RSPB and PwC (2015) Developing Corporate Natural Capital Accounts, available at: http://www. naturalcapitalcommittee.org/corporatenatural-capital-accounting.html NCC (2013) The State of Natural Capital: Towards a framework for measurement and valuation, available at: http://www. naturalcapitalcommittee.org/state-ofnatural-capital-reports.html NCC (2014a) Towards a Framework for Defining and Measuring Changes in Natural Capital, available at: http://www. naturalcapitalcommittee.org/workingpapers.html NCC (2014b) The State of Natural Capital: Restoring our Natural Assets, DEFRA, available at: http://www. naturalcapitalcommittee.org/state-ofnatural-capital-reports.html NCC (2015) The State of Natural Capital: Protecting and Improving Natural Capital for Prosperity and Wellbeing, available at: http://www.naturalcapitalcommittee.org/ state-of-natural-capital-reports.html Ece Ozdemiroglu is the founding director of eftec (Economics for the Environment Consultancy)

Image ©: 1 – Ian Langley 123rf

what the National Trust is doing to conserve assets; 2. Reviewing whether financial budgets are being invested in the right place; and 3. E xploring whether there are sustainable ways of capitalising on the costs of some of that investment.

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Feature

Image ÂŠ: 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Historic England / Alan Bull

Celebrating our heritage Landscape professionals play a vital role in the work of Historic England, the new body that was set up on 1 April this year. BY RUTH SLAVID

Landscape Winter 2015 19

Feature

In April this year, the body was split, with English Heritage becoming a charity with responsibility for looking after the properties that the government owns, and the new body, Historic England, retaining all the other responsibilities. This makes it timely to look at just what those responsibilities are and how they impact on the landscape profession. And who better to guide us through it than Jenifer White, a landscape architect and one of Historic England’s two national landscape advisers (as well as a member of Landscape’s editorial advisory panel)?

This work, she says, falls into seven categories: • Advice • Published guidance • Standards and best practice • Foresight and analysis • Policy and advocacy • Research • Capacity building (through education, training and outreach). These are the responsibilities that existed in the English Heritage days, but there has, says Jenifer, been ‘a step change’. Whereas English Heritage had acquired a reputation (in its work as a whole, not just in landscape), for being rather negative and obstructive, now it is repositioning itself. ‘The mantra is constructive conservation – trying to help secure the future of important historic assets and make sure that they are enjoyed,‘ she said. ‘It is about brokering change.’ Probably the best-known work of Historic England is the listing of buildings, and involvement in the planning process where listed buildings are concerned (at least Grade I and Grade II* buildings – Grade II does not fall within its remit). In landscape terms the equivalent is the Register of Parks and Gardens, set up in 1983. This is something of a misnomer, since its remit is broader than this, including all sorts of landscapes associated with private and public buildings. Generally landscapes have to be 30 years old to be considered for a

Jenifer works alongside Alan Cathersides, a landscape manager whose particular strengths are in vegetation management and wildlife, whereas hers, she says, are in policy and research. She has come to this via an indirect route, having studied botany in Manchester and then landscape ecology, design and maintenance at Wye College. A series of public-sector jobs, including at the Forestry Commission and the Countryside Commission, led her towards first English Heritage and now Historic England. ‘I have always been interested in historic landscapes,’ she said. This is good, since her work is all about them in a wide variety of ways. She and Alan Cathersides have responsibility, Jenifer says, for ‘providing expert advice on the historic parks, gardens and landscapes, including trees, vegetation, wildlife and habitats.’

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1 – Plumpton Rocks, Harrogate, is a Grade II* listed landscape 2 – Like Plumpton, Grovelands Park in Southgate, London is on the ‘at risk’ register 3 – A folly at Shobden Park in Herefordshire.

Image ©: 2, 3 – Historic England / James O Davies

Landscape Institute awards have a new sponsor in the form of Historic England, sponsoring the Heritage and Conservation category. But it is not of course really new, since this category has been sponsored by English Heritage, Historic England’s predecessor, since 2007.

THIS YEAR’S

Landscape architects working for Historic England Kim Auston South West and West Midlands Chris Mayes North East and North West Erika Diaz-Petersen Yorkshire Stuart Taylor East Midlands and East of England Zosia Mellor London Kay Richardson South East position on the register, meaning that those from the 1980s are now under consideration. This can be problematic, because we have not yet learnt to appreciate the significance of many of them – not least, Jenifer says, because the trees are scarcely mature. But this is an exciting time, in part because ‘we are looking at an important period in the history of the Landscape Institute.’ The great success, in contrast, has been with the Victorian parks, which are roughly 150 years old and yet, having been given some care, are loved and relevant today.

Image ©: 5 – Historic England / James O Davies

4 4 – Jenifer White 5 – Romantic dereliction at Abney Park Cemetery in London

Unlike listing, which has to be approved by the DCMS (Department of Culture Media and Sport), a position on the register is entirely decided by Historic England. But the downside is that there is no statutory protection for landscapes on the register. This is one reason, Jenifer says, why sometimes it is more powerfully protective to list a building and its associated landscape rather than simply to put a landscape on the register. This was the case, for example, with Gateway House in Basingstoke, listed in January (see the summer issue of Landscape). But there is an understanding that landscapes on the register should be considered, in particular in the National Planning Policy Framework which states, ‘When considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation. The more important the asset, the greater the weight should be. Significance can be harmed or lost through alteration or destruction of the heritage asset or development within its

setting. As heritage assets are irreplaceable, any harm or loss should require clear and convincing justification. Substantial harm to or loss of a grade II listed building, park or garden should be exceptional. Substantial harm to or loss of designated heritage assets of the highest significance, notably scheduled monuments, protected wreck sites, battlefields, grade I and II* listed buildings, grade I and II* registered parks and gardens, and World Heritage Sites, should be wholly exceptional.’ Advising on all kinds of planning issues is the job of the regional offices of Historic England. It employs six landscape architects in total in its nine regions, and they can offer advice outside their specific regions, so covering the entire country. It is important, Jenifer says, that they are consulted early since often there may not be an understanding in a proposed development of the potential problems – for instance by interfering with an important vista. This may need a complete rethink. She describes the work of these landscape architects as follows: ‘Our Heritage at Risk Programme is designed to help us take an overview of historic parks and gardens and identify those most at risk of being lost as a result of neglect, decay of inappropriate development. The landscape architects are working with owners and other partners to tackle sites through advice and grant-aid. The landscape architects are working in multi-disciplinary teams identifying priorities and the programming the step-by-step repairs or adaptation needed to arrest decline.

Landscape Winter 2015 21

Feature

Total number of registered sites = 1635 Grade I = 142 (9%) Grade II* = 456 (28%) Grade II = 1037 (63%) The English Register aims to capture the nationally important recreational and ornamental landscapes of special historic interest. The National Heritage Act 1983 provided the statute to establish ‘The Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England’. The range of landscape types this covers include • Sites associated with domestic use. This category sub-divides into: – Sites associated with one household or dwelling e.g. palaces, country houses, manor houses, villas, town gardens, terraced houses, cottages. – Sites associated with more than one household or dwelling e.g. communal gardens, squares. – Sites associated with private amenity but which are not attached to a particular house or housing scheme e.g. private resorts, rented town gardens. • Sites belonging to, or associated with, institutions e.g. asylums, botanical gardens, cemeteries, colleges, factories, hospitals, hotels, museums, pumping stations, reservoirs. • Sites designed or used for public amenity and recreation e.g. public parks, public gardens, public walks, public resorts.

‘The landscape architects also support the inspectors and planners in each local office on proposals affecting historic parks and gardens. The Historic England local teams work with developers, local authorities, and design review panels, and whenever possible at the pre-application stage, to help shape proposals so that the harm is minimised and the benefit maximised. They also advise on Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans and work with local groups to help grow knowledge and skills to champion and protect historic places.’ We underestimate, she says, ‘the skills set that develops from landscape architecture training. They are very good at looking at space, at masterplanning, and at brokering solutions.’ In her own case, she says, working with a team that consists mainly of architectural historians and archaeologists, she brings a different perspective. And landscape architects can also benefit from a view of history. ‘We should be proud of our history as a profession,’ Jenifer said. ‘I would hope that the landscape architects of today are designing with the aspiration that their designs will be on the national register in the future. There is a lot to learn from past design and we have a big part to play in helping to look after it.’ One way of bringing this past importance to the attention of the public as well as the profession is through the Capability Brown Festival that will take place next year to celebrate his tercentenary. Historic England is a partner in the festival, which the Landscape Institute is running. ‘It’s a great opportunity to celebrate an important designer,’ Jenifer says, ‘to get people involved in landscape design. It is a great opportunity to champion historic design and will encourage people to get out there and experience it themselves, to learn how landscapes are created, and how they are looked after now.’ Working for Historic England is evidently an exciting and challenging role yet, Jenifer says, when Historic England wants to recruit landscape architects, it finds that there are few with the requisite skills and enthusiasm. Encouraging awareness of the importance of working with historic landscapes should help to remedy this, and what better way than by sponsoring a category at the LI awards?

•

22 Landscape Winter 2015

7 6 – The mansion at Grovelands Park 7 – Looking out from Abney Park Cemetery.

Image ©: 6 – Historic England / Steve Cole 7 – Historic England / James O Davies

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Winners President’s Award p27 Brentford High Street, London ‘making the connection’ Adding Value through Landscape p30 Vauxhall Promenade of Curiosities, London Communications and Presentation p32 Cities Alive – Rethinking green infrastructure Design for a Small Scale Development p34 Derbyshire Street Pocket Park, London Design for a Medium Scale Development p36 Littlehaven Promenade, South Shields Design for a Large Scale Development p38 South Park Plaza at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Design for a Temporary Landscape p40 Urban Physic Garden, London Science, Management and Stewardship p42 Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park park management plan 2014 to 2019 Heritage and Conservation p44 Walpole Park, London

Local Landscape Planning p48 ‘Bring your Brolly Day’, Southhill Solar, Charlbury Strategic Landscape Planning p50 Isle of Anglesey, Gwynedd and Snowdonia National Park Landscape Sensitivity and Capacity Study Student Dissertation p52 Student: Stuart Malcolm, MSc student, University of Edinburgh Public Participation in Landscape Architecture: The Rationale and the Reality Student Portfolio p54 Fraser Halliday, University of Edinburgh / Edinburgh College of Art Urban Design and Masterplanning p56 Brentford High Street ‘making the connection’ Client of the Year p58 The Land Trust Fellows’ Award for Climate Change Adaptation p59 Littlehaven Promenade, South Shields

Policy and Research p46 Second edition of book Great City Parks (2015)

Landscape Winter 2015 25

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President’s Award Winner

Brentford High Street ‘making the connection’

Image ©: 1 – Grant Smith

This year’s President’s Award, given to the project that the LI President considers the most significant, goes to the winning entry in the urban design category, Brentford High Street ‘making the connection’. This was a project that set out to recreate connections to the elements that had made Brentford an important and enjoyable place and that had

been eroded – its role as a market town and its connection to water. In particular, there was little awareness by users of Brentford High Street of how close they were to the River Brent. Elements of the solution, created after imaginative community engagement, included creating a ‘moving high street’ using barges and delivery bikes, establishment

of a pedestrian and bike route beside the water and revitalising riverside sheds so that they became attractive and intriguing to pass through rather than run-down and threatening. The team also designed a new marketplace square which proved very popular. LI President Noel Farrer said, ‘The work crosses boundaries

that will no longer exist once the scheme has come to fruition. The joy of this scheme is that it recognises good masterplanning practice, successfully identifying opportunities to reconnect places safely and legibly but also taking this all the way through to realisation. It focuses on the key challenges, the least safe bits and finally a new public square. Each is done with extraordinary Landscape Winter 2015 27

President’s Award creative skill and lightness of touch. Some pieces look as if it was always like that and, when a building gets in the way, the landscape architect has worked to turn it into a distinctive marker on the route rather than the previous unsafe foreboding obstacle.

28 Landscape Winter 2015

Image ©: 2, 3 – Grant Smith

‘It is this combination of stages of work and excellence at each stage delivering a route which will undoubtedly reconnect many people and change people’s understanding and perception of the area that appeals to me. Landscape is a holistic quest requiring rigorous consideration at all stages. I want landscape architects to feel empowered to do it all and feel they can

Image ©: 4 – Clews Landscape Architects 5 – John Short 6 – Grant Associates 7, 9 – KLA 8 – Robin Forster, Courtesy of LDA Design

contribute to all parts of the process. This is an example we can all learn from.’

collaboration between engineering necessity and place making for all to enjoy.’

In the course of making his decision, Noel looked at the winning and highly commended projects from all the categories. He explained that his interest is in finding a project that is truly excellent, and that sometimes one may not prove to be a category winner because it does not fulfil all the criteria for that specific category to the highest level, but is still outstanding.

The other project that he was keen to highlight was ‘Bring your Brolly Day’, the project that won the Local Landscape Planning category by asking local residents in Charlbury to model the effect of a proposed solar farm, using their umbrellas. ‘I love that that this work has raised awareness of the role of the landscape architect with the community who now see the value of what we do,’ Noel said. ‘This was great and also fun!’

In looking at the projects, there were several that he felt stood out in addition to Brentford. He was very impressed by the projects in the Design for a Large Scale Development category. ‘The Olympic South Park is of course of an exemplary standard,’ he said, ‘but so is the highly commended project in this category. At Bristol Waterfront Grant Associates evolved a new housing scheme in such a way that it meets all its contributions to the wider city and the wider enjoyment of all. Housing is my passion and getting developers down this road this effectively is something we need to see in areas beyond the southeast, where it can be afforded. This is in Bristol and flies a flag for others to follow. ‘Littlehaven Promenade, winner of the Design for a Medium Scale Development category and also of the Fellows’ Award for Climate Change Adaptation, also caught Noel’s attention. ‘This flood-defence scheme in the northeast goes the extra mile and creates a soft, sinuous and beautiful response to what could have been a simple robust engineered solution,’ he said. ‘I welcome the seamless

1 – A strategic new path along the river creates connections in Brentford 2 – A safe cycle and pedestrian route has been created through the previously threatening shed. 3 – Benches and a fountain in the Market Place 4 – Bring your Brolly Day was an imaginative example of local engagement 5 – Littlehaven Promenade demonstrates how much a landscape arcihitect can add to a sea defence scheme 6 – Bristol Harbourside is an exemplar of an enlightened developer 7 – New wayfinding in Brentford 8 – The Olympic South Park 9 – Brentford’s revived High Street

6 Design lead / urban design / landscape architect: Kinnear Landscape Architects; client: London Borough of Hounslow / Greater London Authority (GLA); public art consultancy: MAAP; artists: Simon Periton, Lubna Chowdhary; interdisciplinary urban practitioners: The Decorators; collaborating organisations: London Bike Hub, Brentford High Street Steering Group; structural engineer: Expedition; lighting design: Studio Dekka; contractor: Maylim

Landscape Winter 2015 29

Adding Value through Landscape

Winner

Vauxhall Promenade of Curiosities, London inspired the Promenade, a route between attractions. The Promenade is about seeing and being seen, at day and at night. Just as a cabinet acts as a framework for curiosities, so the Promenade provides such a framework for Curiosities along the route. It establishes an overall, modern and uncluttered language for the ‘missing link’ route and provides a coherent stage for the individual curiosities to be enjoyed along the way. It is the identifiable green pathway through Vauxhall.

Landscape architect: J&L Gibbons with erect architecture; client: Vauxhall One Business Improvement District; borough: London Borough of Lambeth; cost consultant: Artelia; ecology: Ecology Consultancy Ltd; selected implementation designers: Hugo Bugg, The Edible Bus Stop

30 Landscape Winter 2015

The judges said

It covers green infrastructure and multi functional use of space and aims to reconnect the area with its history in an artistic way.

Image ©: 1 – Erect Architecture / J & L Gibbons

Vauxhall One worked with the RIBA, the Landscape Institute and the Garden Museum to commission creative urban and landscape design proposals, with the aim of reconnecting the disjointed parts of the neighbourhood, to build a better visual perception of Vauxhall beyond its roundabouts and roads and to create an identifiable pathway and narrative through the area, linking the railway arches, green spaces and public art into a distinctive place once again. Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens

Highly commended

Manchester Garden City

Services to Schools – Oakridge Infants School, Hampshire

Image ©: 2 – BDP 3 –HCC Marketing Team

The Manchester Garden City (MGC) project began in 2010 to address the lack of green space in the city centre. Employees of BDP realised that, through voluntary efforts and use of their collective expertise, a more liveable urban environment could be achieved. Volunteers teamed up with CityCo, a non-profit membership organisation of city centre employers, who were able to generate funding, materials,

and volunteers. In early 2012 Manchester Garden City was officially launched by CityCo and a coalition of design and economic development interests was created. The judges said This submission is very strong in terms of its vision with regards to green space, use of derelict land, food production, ecology and interaction with nature.

Landscape architect: BDP; client and partner: CityCo Manchester; Manchester City team: BDP; CityCo Manchester: Manchester City Council; landowners/ funders: Town Centre Securities (Piccadilly Basin); Carillion’s Charity Fund (Thomas St. Pocket Park); Greater Manchester Police (Albert Bridge Gardens); Manchester Cathdedral (Dig the City); Manchester City Council; other supporters: Daniela Coray Landscape Architect (St.John’s Gardens); Groundwork (Dig the City/ Victoria Street Construction); volunteers/ community groups: Castlefield Forum; Northern Quarter Residents

The project involved the provision of services to the school over a number of years, to enhance the play value of the grounds and their educational potential. The school was involved throughout, putting learning through active play at the top of its agenda year after year. Work was achieved within a tight budget, but included the creation of a sensory garden and a play deck, as well as introducing additional windows to the school building to allow better views out.

The judges said

The submission shows how public-sector landscape architects continue to contribute to education.

Landscape architect: The Landscape Group, Hampshire County Council; client: Property Services, Hampshire County Council Landscape Winter 2015 31

Communications and Presentation Winner

Cities Alive – Rethinking green infrastructure

Cities Alive pulls together research which now presents clear evidence that our urban green infrastructure – the system

32 Landscape Winter 2015

of city parks, open spaces, city trees, urban woodland and waterways – performs essential ‘ecosystem services’. These include not just environmental benefits, such as mitigating the impacts of climate change, but also a wide range of social and economic benefits. It asserts that cities in the future will need to look vastly different to cities now. They will need to address the challenge of rapidly rising urban populations, adapt to the detrimental effects of climate change and provide much more integrated solutions for everything from energy provision to transport.

The judges said

Although this is not the first time that the importance of green infrastructure has been argued for in this way, this is a serious and very welcome corporate investment in thought leadership.

Landscape architect: Arup

Image ©: 1 – Arup

Cities Alive is a campaign that looks into the future of landscape architecture as a profession in conjunction with issues faced by cities and the rapid process of urbanisation. By rethinking green infrastructure, the research demonstrates that sustainable urban development cannot be achieved without recognising the vital role of the natural environment and its fundamental impact on economic prosperity, health and wellbeing.

Image ©: 2 – The Paul Hogarth Company 3 – Smiling Wolf

Highly commended

Ballymena Public Realm Consultation

A Record of Lancaster

In order to consult fully with users of the town centre on the future of their public realm, the practice elected to prototype the town centre and listen to the views and ideas that resulted. It developed a calendar of events/ tests to provoke opinion and reaction, and then gathered and analysed the responses. The process resulted in the council becoming much better informed about issues including its own organisational challenges, opportunities and potential. There were shor-term benefits to the town from the activities, and longer-term from shared knowledge, ownership and experience.

The judges said

The project brought to life genuine landscape insights

Landscape architect: The Paul Hogarth Company; client: Mid and East Antrim Borough Council; project manager: WYG; quantity surveyor: WYG

‘A Record of Lancaster’ was born to assist delivery of the ‘Lancaster Square Routes’ programme whose aim is to create high-quality public spaces in which people want to linger, increasing dwell time to encourage commercial, social and cultural gains. The Design Guide focuses on a new public plinth for Market Square and wider wayfinding for the City – which the design team also implemented. These then were incorporated into the Design Guide as case studies to evidence the design approach for potential future Square Routes design work.

The judges said

The result is delightful and classy – traditional but with crisp contemporary graphics, and lovingly executed with bronze casting.

Landscape architect: BCA Landscape; client: Lancaster City Council; designers: BCA Landscape and Smiling Wolf; wayfinding: Placemarque; contractor: William Pye Landscape Winter 2015 33

Design for a Small Scale Development Winner

Derbyshire Street Pocket Park, London includes outdoor café space and a shared pedestrian / bike route. The new pocket park has a range of sustainable urban drainage components aimed at reducing pressure on London’s sewer system. These include green-roof bike racks, attenuating planters, permeable paving and a central

Landscape architect: Greysmith Associates; local authority: London Borough of Tower Hamlets; community and arts centre: Oxford House; Pocket Park Initiative funding: Mayor of London / match funded by LB Tower Hamlets; main contractor: JB Riney; green roof shelters: The Grass Roof Company; attenuating planters: Thames Water Utilities; interpretation signboard: RBMP 34 Landscape Winter 2015

rain garden. Together the elements slow the flow of rainwater and allow it to soak into the ground, reducing the threat of flooding locally and in the wider area. The pocket park has enhanced biodiversity and offers an insight into the potential future aesthetics of the public realm.

The judges said

A new precedent for integrated design, delivering a beautiful sustainable drainage system within a fully integrated civic space.

Image ©: 1 – Greysmith Associates

Greysmith Associates teamed up with local arts centre Oxford House to find a new life for a previous dead-end used only for car parking and anti-social behaviour. This has been transformed to take advantage of its south-facing aspect, overlooking a park, and now

Highly commended

Macaulay Walk, London

Millshott Close, London

This new street, created within the Clapham Conservation Area, is part of a mixed-use residential-led scheme. Set on a historic right of way, it runs alongside a former optical works, elements of which have been retained. It skilfully handles private and public elements, and is sensitively integrated within the wider setting of the Conservation Area. There is a bold and astute integration of green infrastructure, which takes full advantage of ‘borrowed landscape’.

The riverside location was a tired, run-down and poorly designed space that suffered from a series of challenges. Groundwork London carried out detailed consultation with residents and other stakeholders to explore the desires and needs for the space and to design and implement proposals. Its design was based around water with flowing and curving lines referencing the Thames. A bit

The judges said A rigorous design process and subtle curation shine through in this beautifully subtle scheme.

of fun was incorporated with ‘turtle mounds’ for informal play. There is a rain garden with a small boardwalk over it. De-paving under trees allowed further water permeation and opportunity for tree growth. The judges said Millshot Close is a project that helps redefine what we mean by an amenity green space.

Landscape architect: Churchman Landscape Architects; client: Grainger; design and build contractor: Galliford Try; architect: Assael; structural engineer: Buro Happold; m and e engineer: Hurley Palmer Flatt; cost consultant: Davis Langdon

Highly commended

Image ©: 2 – Churchman Landscape Architects 3 – Chris Swan 4 – Matthew Conlon Perry (Groundwork London)

Arcadia Nursery, Edinburgh

This garden for a new nursery is realised in three distinct areas. The enclosed garden is a structured area that provides the nursery with many of its day to day requirements. Behind a secret door, a large walkway and tree house lead away from the normal confines into a woodland area. This bridges the gap to the organic and wild meadow area at the far end of the site. Most of the site is left untouched and the existing meadow is developed with a larger mix of native woodland meadow species.

The judges said

The scheme cleverly replicates and adds value to the design concept of the award-winning nursery. Landscape architect: erz; client: University of Edinburgh; architect: Malcolm Fraser Architects; structural engineer: AED; m and e engineer: Harley Haddow; arboricultural clerk of works: Blebo Consultants; ecologist: Applied Ecology; artist: Alan Kain; main contractor: Balfour Beatty

Landscape architect: Groundwork London; client: London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham; main contractor: Greatford Garden Services; subcontractor: Thomas Carvings Chainsaw Sculptors Landscape Winter 2015 35

Design for a Medium Scale Development Winner

Littlehaven Promenade, South Shields Littlehaven Beach, the northernmost section of the South Shields coastal frontage was a neglected length of coastline, backed by a sea wall that was coming to the end of its serviceable life. The primary function of this project was to provide coastal defence, so a significant amount of the scheme was led by structural performance. South Tyneside Council commissioned OOBE’s team, including Broadbent Studio and E3 Ecology, initially to develop proposals to tender stage that would soften the hard engineering aspects of the scheme, enhance the design of the public realm and embed the scheme into the wider environment. The OOBE team’s proposals celebrate the site’s unique location where the River Tyne meets the North Sea. The functional, sustainable, coastal defences also offer a new way to celebrate and enjoy this section of coast as a family beach. The client has achieved its vision of adding a new dimension for tourism and improving protection against the risk of coastal flooding.

Littlehaven Promenade beautifully demonstrates the multiple benefits of landscape architecture.

Landscape architect: OOBE; client: South Tyneside Council; engineer: Royal Haskoning; artist: Broadbent Studio; ecologist: E3 Ecology; main contractor: Galliford Try 36 Landscape Winter 2015

Image ©: 1 – Steve Burdett 2 – Steve Mayes Photography

The judges said

Highly commended

John Henry Brookes Building, Oxford Brookes University

Image ©: 3, 4 – LUC

The project gives back a heart to the University’s community and surrounding residential area. The high standards of design excellence set by the client have been successfully delivered across the scheme, and show how a highly constrained site, remaining operational throughout the works, can be transformed into an inspirational place for learning and enjoyment by the public. The restful and seemingly simple arrangement of hard and soft landscape elements belies the complex underground systems which have been carefully coordinated to reduce energy costs and demands on the existing public infrastructure.

The judges said

The public realm of the transformed Headington campus shows the real benefit of a landscape-led masterplan.

Landscape architect: LUC; client: Oxford Brookes University; architect and lead consultant: Design Engine Associates; project manager: Turner & Townsend Project Management; quantity surveyor: Turner & Townsend Cost Management; contractor: Laing O’Rourke; m and e engineer: Grontmij; civil and structural engineer: Ramboll; lighting design: Spiers & Major; access: QMP; planning: West Waddy ADP; paving and furniture: Vetter UK; concrete: Expanded UK; trees: Lorenz von Ehren; architectural metalwork: Gascoigne and Beever / Glazzard

Landscape Winter 2015 37

Large design Winner

South Park Plaza at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park ‘Event Rooms’ are surrounded by a diverse ‘Planting Ribbon’, building on the plantsmanship started with the Games-time Olympic Park, and using tall textural grasses and perennials to create the feeling of outdoor ‘rooms’ of different sizes. The judges said

This combines numerous activities within a richly planted environment that both delights and entertains.

Project lead, design landscape architect: James Corner Field Operations; client: London Legacy Development Corporation; detail design and implementation: LDA Design; prime contractor: Skanska Landscape; contractor: Willerby Landscape; engineering services: Arup; cost estimating: Deloitte; water feature design: Fountain Workshop; event consultant: Groundbreaking; architecture: Make Architects; planting design: Piet Oudolf; playground consultant: Play Link; lighting design: Speirs + Major; detailed lighting design: Michael Grubb Studio; art/identity: Tomato; irrigation design: Waterwise Solutions 38 Landscape Winter 2015

Image ©: 1 – James Newton Photographs 2, 3 – © Courtesy London Legacy Development Corporation

Built on the grounds of the London 2012 Olympic Games, South Park Plaza at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP) was conceived as a 21st Century pleasure garden. This southern half of the park is defined by its eventfulness, creative programming and multicultural attractions. The South Park Plaza of QEOP was once almost entirely paved as the main concourse for the Olympic Games. The Plaza is now a place for events, entertainment, activity and discovery, with 11.3 hectares of open space, including the 12m wide, tree-lined ‘Arc Promenade’, a new spine and social centrepiece of the park, hung with spherical lanterns and linking a series of exciting spaces designed to inspire creativity in people of all ages. These flexible

Highly commended

Bristol Harbourside masterplan The intent was to create a masterplan that regenerated a brownfield site at the heart of Bristol into a new vibrant, green quarter, reconnecting the city centre with the waterfront. It included developing and delivering public-realm proposals for each phase of works. The design philosophy was to transform a derelict area into a vibrant place to live, work and relax, with an emphasis on improving connectivity. The project opens up and enhances key views in the context of the

Cathedral and the waterfront and provides a variety of streets and public open spaces, integrating art and ecology. The judges said

Impressive use of sustainability principles in an urban context, creating an intelligent and positive addition to the waterside.

Image ÂŠ: 4, 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Grant Associates

4 Landscape architect: Grant Associates; client/ developer: Crest Nicholson Regeneration; architect: Cullinan Studio; structural and civil engineer: Arup; m and e engineer: Hoare Lea; lead artist: Tim Knowles; quantity surveyor: Gardiner and Theobald; planning consultant: Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners Landscape Winter 2015 39

Design for a Temporary Landscape

Winner

Urban Physic Garden, London sought to educate and inspire. Throughout the summer there were more than 100 events in the garden which hosted high-profile speakers, workshop facilitators, food events, filmmakers, musicians and theatre companies. Using the language and structure of a hospital and pharmacy, the Urban Physic Garden celebrated the medicinal potential found in our back gardens to promote

Landscape architect, designer and producer: Wayward; partners and funders: Bankside Urban Forest, Bankside Open Spaces Trust, The Tate Modern, Kings College, Living Medicine, Publica, Lake Estates, Openvizor, Carillion, The Peter de Haan Trust, and hundreds of volunteers and contributors 40 Landscape Winter 2015

health and wellbeing in urban environments. It evoked a living hospital with structural frames inspired by a pharmacy cross. These structures formed various garden rooms – or hospital wards – hosting relevant plants found in both herbal remedies and modern medicine.

The judges said

This project stands out because it delivered successfully on both design and concept delivery yet provided significant community and social benefits on multiple levels.

Image ©: 1 – Mike Massaro

In the summer of 2011, a derelict space in central London became an imaginative urban garden that focused on medicinal plants and herbs that heal. The Urban Physic Garden was constructed through a large-scale community build that brought together more than 200 volunteers to share and develop their skills, from carpentry to gardening, to create a beautiful public space that

Highly commended

UK Pavilion, Milan Expo 2015

‘Roof East’, Stratford, London

Image ©: 2 – BDP 3 – Roof East - Urban Space Management 4 – Matthew Conlon Perry / Groundwork London

In response to the Expo theme, the UK pavilion highlighted the plight of the honeybee and ways in which new research and technology are helping to address challenges, including food security and biodiversity. The landscape forms a core aspect of the scheme, covering around 60% of the site area. The landscape architect was instrumental in developing the artist’s concept from the initial competition stage through to completion on site.

The judges said

This temporary landscape is a wonderful demonstration of what can be achieved in delivering a message to society.

The design for this roof-top park consisted of a series of recycled wooden pallets arranged and modified into raised plant beds, free-standing low green walls, seating and tables. In addition to the pallets, recycled car bodies were used as interesting, alternative tree planters, doubling as informal seating. The entire basis of the design focused on adaptability with all elements of the park capable of being re-positioned by a fork lift.

The judges said

This project is about recognising opportunity and making the most of forgotten space even in the most obvious places.

Lead landscape architect, architect and lighting designer: BDP; client: UK Trade & Investment; artist/creative lead: Wolfgang Buttress; project manager: AECOM; principal contractor: Stage One; soft landscape contractor: Heyland Landscapes; movement/circulation consultant: Movement Strategies; structural engineer, The Hive: Simmonds Studio; physicist and researcher: Dr Martin Bencsik, Nottingham Trent University; graphics: Squint/Opera

Landscape architect: Groundwork London; client: Urban Space Management; main contractor: Greatford Garden Services; other organisations: LLDC; GLA; Chelsea Re-Use; Rooftop film club; Grow Up Urban Farms; Stratford Renaissance Partnership; London Borough of Newham; corporate volunteers: Interserve Landscape Winter 2015 41

Science, Management and Stewardship Winner

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park park management plan 2014 to 2019 for the preparation of operational and service-provider maintenance plans and specifications. Land Management Services designed and executed an extensive consultation and review programme both at the start of and during the commission, to ensure that it – and the client – understood this diversity of need. This process enabled the

creation of a plan which could deliver at an appropriate level across all topics without compromising integrity. For example, the practice developed guidelines on restoration and mitigation to control and alleviate the impact of highprofile events delivery taking place in an immature landscape.

The judges said

An exemplar of landscape parkland management

1 Landscape architect: Land Management Services; client: London Legacy Development Corporation; ecology: Gary Grant Ecology; arboriculture: ACS Trees; engineering and structures: Alan Baxter Integrated Design; lighting and electrical: Hoare Lea; other contributors: LDA Design; The Landscape Group; University of Sheffield 42 Landscape Winter 2015

Image ©: 1 – Land Management Services

The commissioning and subsequent execution of a comprehensive management plan for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is of enormous significance for delivery of the Olympic legacy. The plan was required to set out how highlevel planning strategies and policy would be delivered, as well as provide the framework

Image ÂŠ: 2, 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Land Management Services

Landscape Winter 2015 43

Heritage and Conservation Winner

Walpole Park, London

44 Landscape Winter 2015

the work of a previously underappreciated landscape designer, John Haverfield the Younger. The project is innovative primarily in developing a fully integrated plan for restoration and interpretation of house and garden. Through the appreciation of rich documentary evidence, the veteran tree resource, designed parkland and landscape programme, interpretation and activity, the project has revealed and involved the community and experts in both the historic narrative and in realising contemporary everyday aspiration.

The judges said

The project demonstrates its relevance to contemporary landscape use while retaining and enhancing this important historic landscape.

Landscape architect: J & L Gibbons; client: London Borough of Ealing/ Heritage Lottery Fund; architect: Jestico + Whiles; conservation architect: Julian Harrap Architects; structural engineer: Ellis & Moore; services engineer: Kingshaw Associates; quantity surveyor: Artelia UK; historic landscape advisor: Sarah Couch Historic Landscapes; landscape manager: Land Management Services; interpretation designer: Ralph Applebaum Associates; contractors: Gavin Jones (Walpole Park), Longcross (The Rickyard)

Image ÂŠ: 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sarah Blee / J & L Gibbons

Walpole Park, Pitzhanger Manor and its immediate setting, as well as being much-loved local facilities and landmarks, are of national importance including Sir John Soaneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legacy and significant archive of design drawings and ledgers. The park, registered of historic interest grade II, has remained substantially intact during its known history. The house and garden display an exceptional level of detailed involvement by Soane in their design, management and use. The landscape is also a very rare and characteristic example of

Highly commended

Restoration of The Level, Brighton

Image ÂŠ: 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; LUC

This project is the restoration of an important public park in a prime location within Brighton city centre, which had become neglected and with poor legibility. The park is now an important destination within Brighton and is a crucial piece of the dense urban infrastructure. The project aimed to promote the unique heritage whilst bringing the park into the 21st century; it has improved the health and happiness of many park users and also proved to be a catalyst for higher standards and a better environment for the entire city.

The judges said

It is particularly pleasing to see restoration of a 1920s park design, this period being less celebrated in landscape history.

Lead consultant and landscape architect: LUC; client: Brighton & Hove City Council; quantity surveyor and cost consultant: MacConvilles; principal contractor: Gavin Jones

Landscape Winter 2015 45

Policy and Research Winner

Second edition of book Great City Parks (2015) This book completely updates and expands the first edition published in 2001. It covers the 20 urban parks in North America and Europe that were surveyed in the first edition, plus a further 10 parks, many of which were constructed in the intervening years. It is based on repeat site visits and detailed interviews with the designers and/ or current managers of the 30 parks. It includes purposedrawn scale plans of each park and photography specially commissioned for the book. It also includes what is possibly the most comprehensive bibliography on the subject. The provides insights into the planning, design, management, function and future plans for a human-made landscape type that will continue to provide opportunities for landscape architects to make significant contributions to increasingly urban-based populations. The judges said

1 Landscape architect: Alan Tate; publisher: Routledge/ Taylor + Francis Group; interviews, photography and critique: Marcella Eaton; plans: Peter Siry and Shawn Stankewich; photography: Belinda Chan and Martin Jones 46 Landscape Winter 2015

Image ©: 1 – Belinda Chan 2 – Alan Tate

A valuable and longterm reference for a broad audience, including practitioners, key decisionmakers, academics, students and the wider public.

Highly commended

Image ©: 3 – Gillespies/National Grid 4 – Bridget Snaith

The Visual Impact Provision: Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment of Existing Electricity Infrastructure in Nationally Protected Landscapes in England and Wales National Grid commissioned landscape professionals to carry out work to help it and its Stakeholder Advisory Group make informed decisions about which lines should be shortlisted for consideration. The third edition of the industry standard Guidelines (GLVIA3) became available in April 2013, just a few months before this project began. This project took the approach set out in GLVIA3 and developed a tailored

framework for making judgements, especially about value and susceptibility, which was appropriate to the particular challenges of dealing with electricity infrastructure in designated landscapes.

PhD thesis – The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: Whose Values, Whose Benefits? A case study exploring the role of cultural values in ethnic minority under-representation in UK parks This case study investigates the relationship between the cultural inscription of park spaces, spatial practices of park making by the primarily ‘Anglo’ groups designing this new city space, and the experiences, preferences and values of the ethnically diverse communities who currently live around the London Olympic site. It finds that while seeking inclusion, exclusionary values are

unintentionally embedded in production and management of UK parks. It shows the cultural values embedded in UK spatial practices, their exclusionary nature, along class and ethnic dimensions, and reflects on the importance of cultural consciousness in spatial design in our increasingly multicultural cities.

The judges said

The study demonstrates wider applicability to other infrastructure sectors and providers.

National Grid independent landscape advisor: Carys Swanwick; landscape architects: Gillespies, LUC; client/ owner authority: National Grid

The judges said

This valuable and detailed primary research offers a challenge to all parts of the profession to review their approaches and practices. Landscape architect: Bridget Snaith; with thanks to LLDC and all the professionals and community members who agreed to be interviewed for the research Landscape Winter 2015 47

Local Landscape Planning

Winner

‘Bring your Brolly Day’, Southhill Solar Farm, Charlbury the planners and came up with the ‘Bring Your Brolly Day’ idea to reengage the public, demonstrate visual impact and allow the community to be an integral part of the design process. The day was an overwhelming success with over a hundred participants of all ages (Charlbury’s population is only around 3000). Participants held up their umbrellas at the proposed height

of the solar panels and were photographed from three directions. The photos of the event radically influenced the design process and allowed the community to decide what was acceptable; the revised scheme was re-submitted, supported by planners and was approved at committee in July 2014.

Landscape architect: Clews Landscape Architecture; client: Sustainable Charlbury; planning consultant: Ethical Partnership; ecologist: Wychwood Biodiversity; heritage consultant: Jody O’Reily Consultant; solar supplier: SolarCentury 48 Landscape Winter 2015

The judges said

A very imaginative community engagement project that directly involves the local community in the landscape.

Image ©: 1 – Clews Landscape Architecture

The proposal was to create a community-owned 5MW solar farm in the parish of Charlbury, West Oxfordshire, within the Cotswold AONB. Following a number of public consultations Clews Landscape Architecture developed a planning application with strong public backing but which was near unanimously rejected at committee. After this rejection, the practice met with

Image ©: 2 – Gillespies 3 – Monmouthshire County Council

Highly commended

Wind Turbines and Pylons: Guidance on the Application of Separation Distances from Residential Properties

Monmouthshire Green Infrastructure Supplementary Planning Guidance

Gwynedd Council, Isle of Anglesey County Council and Snowdonia National Park Authority have been receiving an increasing number of applications for single or multiple wind turbines that are not large enough to be considered a ‘wind farm’ but together or individually could have a significant impact on views from residential

The brief was to develop green infrastructure Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) to provide further details of policies and proposals within the Monmouthshire Local Development Plan. Delivering growth in Monmouthshire presents particular challenges, and embedding high-quality, multifunctional green

properties. The councils and park authority currently have little information to help inform their judgement when making decisions on whether or not a development should be given consent. To address this issue, they commissioned this study with the aim of achieving more robust, transparent and consistent decisions.

infrastructure into development through the planning process to help create sustainable places is critical. The SPG is intended to provide practical guidance for developers and their consultants, statutory decision makers and consultees, and the general public/local community groups.

The judges said

An innovative project that provides a credible method for analysing the visual impact of wind turbines and pylons.

A practical and very comprehensive tool to encourage consideration and application of green infrastructure in planning.

Landscape architects: Gillespies, LUC; client/ owner authority: National Grid; National Grid independent landscape advisor: Carys Swanwick

Landscape architect: Chris Blandford Associates; client: Monmouthshire County Council; project stakeholder group: Monmouthshire County Council; Brecon Beacons National Park Authority; Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit Landscape Winter 2015 49

Strategic Landscape Planning Winner

Isle of Anglesey, Gwynedd and Snowdonia National Park Landscape Sensitivity and Capacity Study

landscape, much of which is designated as National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The purpose of this study was to provide guidance in the assessment of the landscape and visual impacts of different developments with a view to protecting sensitive and distinctive landscapes from inappropriate development whilst encouraging a positive

Landscape architect: Gillespies; planning and client bodies: Gwynedd Council, Isle of Anglesey County Council, Snowdonia National Park 50 Landscape Winter 2015

approach to the right development. It is aimed at multiple users including developers when making planning applications, local planning officers when considering applications and planning policy formation. A number of students have also requested copies of the report as an example of best practice.

The judges said

The study is beautifully presented and is written in an easily understood style, making it more likely that the recommendations will be acted on. Image ÂŠ: 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gillespies

Whilst the environmental, socio-economic and other benefits of new renewable energy, telecommunications and tourism development are fully recognised by the client group, there is currently insufficient guidance available to officers for them to assess the potential impacts to ensure that they do not result in unacceptable harm to the

Highly commended

CIVI: Cumulative Impacts of Vertical Infrastructure The purpose of the study was to consider the cumulative impact of vertical infrastructure development holistically and to establish the current levels of impact being experienced across Cumbria and North Lancashire, in order to inform decision making on future development proposals. It was to build upon existing local landscape character guidance for the landscape baseline and to follow industry standard best practice approaches, providing guidance for planning officers on applying the assessment in practice, when considering proposals for vertical infrastructure and the need to conserve these special landscapes.

The judges said

Particularly strong in its technical research and analysis, and creative use of landscape assessment techniques.

Image ©: 2 – WYG 3 – Cumbria County Council

Landscape architect: WYG; client: Cumbria County Council, with partners – Lancashire County Council, Lake District National Park Authority, Carlisle City Council, Allerdale Borough Council, Copeland Borough Council, Eden District Council, South Lakeland District Council, Lancaster City Council, Wyre Borough Council; contractor: Scandor Landscape Contractors

Landscape Winter 2015 51

Student Dissertation Winner

The concept of public participation in planning has gathered momentum over the past fifty years to the extent that most governments in the western world have augmented planning guidance and policy to include some form of public participation in the planning process. However, there has been considerable debate as to whether or not it can be a meaningful and relevant element in the process of shaping our urban and rural landscapes. This research project employs the method of participatory design as a form of research through design, to test the potential of public participation, and, in particular how it can be adapted to include communities in the design process. It begins with an overview of existing critical theory on the evolution of public participation and participatory design, examines current practice within the field of planning, proceeds with the implementation of a participatory design workshop and concludes with an analysis of the overall research project and recommendations for future practice. The judges said

52 Landscape Winter 2015

This dissertation demonstrated a high quality distillation of a sound research process and project.

Student: Stuart Malcolm, MSc landscape architecture, University of Edinburgh Public Participation in Landscape Architecture: The Rationale and the Reality

Highly commended

Student: Yuhei Nakajima, Writtle College Winter Participatory Landscape: ‘Designing a Bulgarian Ski Resort in a time of Climate Change’

Student: Melanie Clemmey, MA student, University of Gloucestershire An investigation into the invisible landscape of memory and experience and its potential applications to landscape site analysis and design development

This research looked at ways in which ski resorts could adapt as climate change means that there are fewer days of snow. It set out to understand how the experience of skiing and the deeper meaning of skiing activity as a means of being in a wilder context could be integrated into a regional ski-resort planning scheme. The research examined an actual ski resort which is said to have problems regarding ecological integration and following policy guidelines.

The judges said

A very good application of a broad and relevant subject area (climate change impacts and adaptation) to a niche topic area (ski resorts).

This project explores the concept of an invisible landscape of memory and experience and its relationship to the physical landscape. As well as examining developments in place-making, urban renewal and industrial heritage from the perspective of professionals working in the urban environment, the research draws on insights from other disciplines to identify innovative

approaches to exploring, collecting and mapping responses to the landscape. The project offered opportunities to experiment with creative mapping techniques, to assess how memory and experience might influence planning and design, and to consider ways of engaging with communities during the process.

The judges said

The dissertation is well edited and clearly structured. It demonstrates rigour and breadth.

Landscape Winter 2015 53

Student Portfolio Winner

Fraser Halliday, University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh College of Art Fraser entered work from all five years of his study, which included time spent working in Berlin. He wrote, ‘I am intrigued to see how the future of public space unfolds, especially since we have adopted a far greater tolerance of bottom-up planning in the UK. In this way, I have learned to always take an approach to design that lends a degree of openness, or uncertainty to the final product.’ His final design project puts forward an alternative proposal for the development of Dresden. He wrote, ‘In particular, the aim is to activate a vibrant urban space through proposing a landscape framework that combines architectural specificity with degrees of tactical openness to create a robust yet flexible design capable of supporting the uncertainty of urban programming.’ The image shown here is from a project to design a park in Poland.

The judges said

54 Landscape Winter 2015

Each project shows great sensitivity and an excellent understanding of the prevailing issues that he was seeking to address through planning and design. The outcomes are well judged, technically robust and appropriate to place.

Highly commended

Rachel Brown, University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh College of Art

In the final semester of her fifth year, Rachel selected a site in Paris and wrote a brief that focuses on using the sitem an abandoned railway loop around the city, as a way on connecting the diverse and lively communities within the city. Her proposal was to create a green ribbon forming a full circle around Paris with a chain of related green spaces. It would, she wrote, ‘create an experiential journey with the unique charm of this beautiful site’. The image shown is from a project for Bellahouston Park, Glasgow.

The judges said

Rachel has an excellent grasp of the issues and challenges posed for different sites and is confident in working at different scales from strategic planning to detailed design.

Landscape Winter 2015 55

Urban Design and Masterplanning Winner

Brentford High Street ‘making the connection’ Brentford has a unique location where the railway, canal network and River Thames meet. This point of exchange, particularly the relationship to water, historically informed Brentford’s market town character. However, its identity has gradually eroded since the 1940s. KLA’s ‘make the connection’ projects seek to remake Brentford High Street as a successful, liveable town centre and reassert its sense of place and identity. The design

philosophy is rooted in the involvement of local people and in doing so exploring the potential of their environment. Urban curation as practised by KLA is flexible and collaborative, allowing it to bring in artists and other facilitators to work with space and community as the project unfolds. The results are innovative urban interventions that address the complex contextual challenges of a place.

The judges said

The project stood out for its thoughtful and distinctive approach to urban regeneration, based on urban mending and forging new connections.

Design lead / urban design / landscape architect: Kinnear Landscape Architects; client: London Borough of Hounslow / Greater London Authority (GLA); public art consultancy: MAAP; artists: Simon Periton, Lubna Chowdhary; interdisciplinary urban practitioners: The Decorators; collaborating organisations: London Bike Hub Brentford High Street Steering Group; structural engineer: Expedition; lighting design: Studio Dekka; contractor: Maylim 56 Landscape Winter 2015

Highly commended

Vauxhall Promenade of Curiosities, London – public realm framework

Middlehaven Development Framework: A new park as the catalyst for regeneration

The Vauxhall Promenade of Curiosities rethinks an area where the public realm is dominated by vehicles and is difficult for pedestrians and cyclists to navigate. The main objectives of the public realm framework were to set standards, aspirations and a delivery strategy for a more sustainable, greener and delightful public realm, biased towards more sustainable modes of transport. The proposals are key to connecting communities separated by the railway viaduct and traffic. The concept proposals were inspired by local landscape history and narratives. Landscape architect: J&L Gibbons with erect architecture; client: Vauxhall One; cost consultant: Artelia; ecology: Ecology Consultancy; selected implementation designers: Hugo Bugg, The Edible Bus Stop

The judges said We especially liked the strong visual element of the report and its commitment to a long-term strategic approach to deliver a coherent development through a series of smaller projects.

Urban Initiatives was initially appointed to prepare a development framework for Middlehaven in 2010. Its brief expanded to include design codes to support the framework and the council adopted both the framework and the codes in 2011. Subsequently the practice was appointed to prepare a detailed design and planning application for an urban park that it had proposed in the heart of the area, ‘Middlehaven Park’. It also developed the Urban Pioneers Programme

and Prospectus which establishes a series of development plots overlooking the park and markets these to local builders. The judges said

A radical attempt to deliver residential development on a site that was failed by traditional development models.

Lead designer: Urban Initiatives Studio; client: Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Middlesbrough Council; development constraints, transport and detailed design: CH2M Hill; property market: GVA

Highly commended

Avon River Precinct, Christchurch, New Zealand The earthquake of 2011 damaged the heart of one of New Zealand’s largest urban areas. Post earthquake, the city and its community decided to rebuild a greener, more accessible city. Whilst the Avon River Precinct is only a small part of the overall rebuilding programme, its location at the heart of Christchurch is a catalyst for wider city centre rejuvenation and has the ability

to help set a strong design framework and raise the environmental standards of the whole of the inner city area. The judges said The interdisciplinary landscapearchitect-led design team worked effortlessly between the grand urban vision and the sensitive attention to detail required for successful implementation.

Landscape architect: BDP; client: CERA (Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority); other organisations: CCC (Christchurch City Council); Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu; Opus International Consulting; Boffa Miskell; Land Lab; EOS

Landscape Winter 2015 57

Client of the Year Winner

The Land Trust

58 Landscape Winter 2015

environmental improvements and economic prosperity. TEP made reference to three projects by The Land Trust in its submission. They are: Countess of Chester Country Park; Northumberlandia; and, Cronton Country Park. It wrote, ‘The Land Trust has demonstrated a willingness to engage landscape architects throughout its lifespan and always provides a clear project brief for organisations working with it... Schemes approved for Land Trust projects are large scale and adventurous...

A strength of The Land Trust, when working at the concept stage of any project, is its ability to identify elements of “enabling” work early to allow landscape architects to work efficiently.’ The judges said

The submission demonstrates the commitment of The Land Trust to deliver high-quality projects and a willingness to work with partners and design teams to develop innovative solutions.

Proposing landscape architect: The Environment Partnership (TEP)

This new award was selected from nominations made by landscape practices, and judged by the awards committee. The Land Trust is a charity with influential partners, members and trustees. Its objective is to create and manage open spaces on behalf of and in partnership with local communities by creating new, accessible, spaces that will be valued and enjoyed by the community, and that will provide a quality setting for a range of health and wellbeing initiatives, community engagement, volunteering, education, training,

Fellows’ Award for Climate Change Adaptation Winner

Littlehaven Promenade

This project, which won the Design for a Medium-Scale Development category, is, the landscape architect says, ‘the first coastal defence project to pro-actively realign a seawall landward to intentionally increase the width of the natural beach providing a more sustainable line of defence. An innovative concept runs throughout the scheme with bespoke features including seats, artwork and branding ensuring the scheme reflects its unique

location, heritage and culture.’ It has taken what could have been a purely engineering solution to the problem of erosion and has demonstrated how much landscape architecture can add by enhancing the design of the public realm and embedding the scheme in the wider environment. In this way, the much-needed replacement of a sea wall has also resulted in a seafront that is far more appealing to residents and visitors than its predecessor was.

The judges said

This is an unusual, refreshing response to coastal defence, involving a landward shift in sea defences, in the interest of long-term sustainability. The judges were impressed by the sensitive and collaborative design response to an evolving coastal issue. Landscape architect: OOBE; client: South Tyneside Council; engineer: Royal Haskoning; artist: Broadbent Studio; ecologist: E3 Ecology; main contractor: Galliford Try

Landscape Winter 2015 59

Thanks

The Landscape Institute would like to thank all the judges of the awards who gave up their time to scrutinise the entries. Adding Value through Landscape – Ece Ozdemiroglu (chair), eftec – Peter Chmiel CMLI Grant Associates – Jon Berry CMLI Tyler Grange

Heritage & Conservation –D r Marion Harney (chair) University of Bath –Z osia Mellor CMLI Historic England –M atthew Tickner CMLI Cookson & Tickner

Communications and Presentation – Stella Bland (chair), Consultant – Matt Parker, Room 60 – Natan Doron, Labour Party

Science, Management and Stewardship –N aomi Oakley (chair) Natural England –D r Peter Shepherd, BSG Ecology –K rishanthi Carfrae CMLI G L Hearn

Design for a Small Scale Development – Peter Massini (chair) Greater London Authority – Chris Moss Earthenware Landscape Architects – Neil Manthorpe CMLI, Atkins Design for a Medium Scale Development – Kathy MacEwen (chair), Kathy MacEwen Design and Planning – Suzanne Simmon CMLI, CIRIA – David Finch CMLI, Churchman Landscape Architects Design for a Large Scale Development – Robin Buckle (chair), Transport for London – Sybilla Hartel CMLI Gustafson Porter – Phil Askew CMLI, LLDC Design for a Temporary Landscape – Alison Minto (chair) Meanwhile Space CIC – Alan Carter, The Land Trust – Pol MacDonald CMLI, OPEN

60 Landscape Winter 2015

Landscape Policy and Research –K atherine Drayson (chair) Greater London Authority –P eter Neal FLI Peter Neal Consulting –N eil Sinden, formerly CPRE Local Landscape Planning –P rofessor Matthew Carmona (chair), The Bartlett –R ebecca Knight CMLI, LUC –C lare Penny CMLI, Winchester City Council Strategic Landscape Planning –P rofessor Robert Tregay FLI (chair) LDA Design –K arin Taylor CMLI National Trust –R osslyn Stuart, RTPI The Ecology Consultancy

Urban Design and Masterplanning – Alan Thompson (chair) A P Thompson – Ian Hingley CMLI Urban Movement – Sion Thaysen CMLI, Allen Scott – Avra Ploumi-Archer CMLI Space + Place Design Student Dissertation – Joshua Zeunert (chair) Writtle College – Mayda Henderson FLI Gillespies – Lindsey Wilkinson FLI RHDHV – Jacqui Jobbins CSA Environmental Planning – Bethany Gale, BDP Student Portfolio – Ian Houlston CMLI (chair) LDA Design – Trudi Entwistle, Leeds Metropolitan University – Freddie Egan, Consultant Fellows’ Award – Paj Valley FLI (chair), Atkins – Neil Williamson PPLI FLI New Forest District Council Awards Committee – David Withycombe CMLI (chair) Land Management Services – Nicola Hancock CMLI, TEP – Rob Beswick CMLI B|D landscape architects – Anne Evans CMLI Anne Evans Landscape Architects – Paj Valley FLI, Atkins – Jo Watkins PPLI CMLI Consultant

The Landscape Institute is grateful to the sponsors of the awards. They are:

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Landscape Winter 2015 61

Feature

A place to think The Garden of Reflection in Wells combines cutting edge concrete technology with some decidedly old-fashioned planting to create a special and contemplative place.

62 Landscape Winter 2015

Image ÂŠ: â&#x20AC;&#x201C; BCA Landscpae

BY RUTH SLAVID

1 – The garden has fantastic views of the cathedral. 2 – Visitors find their own way through the wilderness to the back of the poustinia.

gardens try to do so much that it is immensely refreshing that the garden designed by BCA Landscapes in Wells, Somerset, has a single purpose. And that purpose is not to amuse or dazzle or to entertain, but to be a place for repose and reflection.

MOST

It does this superbly well and boldly. Set among a host of other gardens, the Garden of Reflection is magical and a little mysterious. It uses one of the most modern of construction materials to create a place that is special and truly one of a kind.

Its genesis, like so many projects, was in financial necessity. The Bishop’s Palace at Wells has been in existence for nearly 880 years. It is next to, but separate from, the cathedral in what is billed as England’s smallest city. When Peter Price was appointed as bishop in 2002, he was told by the Church Commissioners that, while he could continue to use the palace as his home and his office, he had to make it financially self-supporting by increasing visitor numbers. He set about a programme of restoration of the palace and the grounds, which include the wells (in fact springs which bubble up into pools) that gave the city its name.

In total there are 14 acres of grounds, and in general they are looked after and developed by the head gardener James Cross who is doing a magnificent job, using swathes of colour and, in late summer, plenty of ‘bishop’ dahlias, including a specially bred Bishop Peter Price. There is a community garden, an arboretum and some temporary sculpture. But the bishop decided that within these grounds there should be a garden of reflection, a nondenominational place where people could come and think. ‘He wanted to have a garden where people could experience something of the other,’ explained Peter Stickland, vice chair of the Palace Trust. This became one of the last areas of the gardens to be designed, partly because of a false start with another designer whose work the bishop rejected. In the end, BCA Landscape, working with artist Stephen Broadbent, was appointed in 2011. The garden was completed and formally opened just days before the bishop’s retirement in 2013.

Landscape Winter 2015 63

Feature

The brief was certainly unusual. Andy Thomson, partner at BCA Landscape, explained that the challenge was simply to create ‘a garden like no other’. It is set on a former derelict area, between other gardens, and has to accommodate changes in level. Yet it is not only like no other, it also is ‘other’ – separate from what is going on around it.

You enter between yew hedges and curve around past planting set between low stone walls to create an impression analogous to the stained glass windows in the cathedral. The path takes you past a stone bench, and as you follow it you see the main area to your right. This is a semi-wild area, with birch trees that will grow up to make a grove, among grasses with some wild flowers set in amongst them. The original idea was that there would be no paths across this area, although some have been created as natural desire lines and James Cross has laid bark on one of these to facilitate wheelchair access. The paths lead to the centrepiece of the garden, to the back of the ‘poustinia’, a Russian term that means a cabin or room where one goes to fast and pray alone in the presence of God. Rather than the simple wooden structure that this might lead one to expect, this is a gleaming

64 Landscape Winter 2015

The only other element is some prairie-style planting on the far side of the garden, backed by an existing stone wall, as one goes toward the exit – which could also be the entrance because nothing is prescribed. And nothing is explained. Just as you are not guided along paths to the poustinia, so you are not guided by signs that tell you what to think. There is a quotation from Antonio Machado as you go in: ‘Traveller, there is no path, paths are made by walking’ and this is also carved beautifully on the crescent-shaped bench. But even that is enigmatic, because the carving runs off the ends of the bench as they emerge and disappear into the ground, as if this was part of a large circle with only a smallish element above ground.

3 – Plan of the garden 4 – The gardener planted the ‘stained glass window’ with bright annuals

white near circle constructed in Ductal concrete (see box). Inside is an integral cantilevered bench, but this is not obvious, since you approach it from the back. Once inside, you can sit and think or do anything you want. There is an extraordinary echo if you stand in the centre and a relationship to the sky which shows the inspiration that the designers drew from James Turrell’s Deer Shelter Skyspace in Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Designing and making the Ductal bench Ductal is an ultra-high performance concrete developed by cement manufacturer Lafarge. It is reinforced with small fibres and, because of its density and ductility, it can be used in many applications without reinforcement. It is very white and durable, and can be used in much smaller sections than conventional concrete. When BCA was designing the poustinia, it looked at a number of options with engineer Barry Jefcoate, a director of Booth King. He knew that the designer wanted a slender solution, ideally tapering to the top, and was looking at a shadow gap to define the seat. He thought of Ductal which he had seen in the form of the floating stair that Zaha Hadid designed for her gallery. He realised that it would be possible to make the seat effectively be the shadow gap by cantilevering it in a manner reminiscent of the classic 1950s Danish Panton chairs. There is some reinforcement in the seat itself, but none elsewhere, and the walls taper to a mere 30mm thick at the top.

6 5 – The poustinia at Il Cantiere’s works, showing the cantilever of the seats 6 – This trial assembly shows the individual sections

Ductal is licenced to certain manufacturers, and the poustinia was precast in sections by a company called Il Cantiere, based in the Veneto region of Italy. There is a slight slope on the seats, and a drainage detail between each element. Calculation was not too hard, Barry said, although the fixing of the elements together and to the foundations took some thought. The elements were lifted in by a crane working at the limit of its reach, and there were a few hairy moments. But the project was, he said, ‘a joy to work on. It was a real collaboration and you couldn’t have had a better client.’ Peter Stickland is delighted with the poustinia. Having studied the properties of the Ductal and the protection that the reinforcement has, he learnt that it has a design life of 3000 years – ‘longer than the cathedral’.

Landscape Winter 2015 65

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66 Landscape Winter 2015

Feature

7 – English limestone frames the stained glass window. 9 – The bench with its motto which disappears into the ground 8, 10 – Planting in the prairie garden

Some visitors, Peter Stickland said, become angry about the lack of interpretation. But most love it, and he is evidently pleased that the garden evokes strong emotions, even if some of them are hostile. The garden is only a year old, but it has already evolved. James Cross replaced the original planting in the ‘stained glass windows’ with lower growing and brightly coloured annuals. These are all the plants that we have learnt to hate – bright red salvias, lurid yellow large-flowered begonias, fluffy lilac ageratums and harsh pink pelargoniums, each block of the window planted with a single species. And the effect is ... magnificent.

rare as cash-strapped councils turn to meadow planting in order to save money. And if he’s wrong? Well, they are only annuals, so there is no commitment.

Andy Thomson, who had not visited the garden for a year, was horrified when he heard about this, but when he saw it he acknowledged that it worked. And Peter Stickland said that the public loved it. James Cross believes that these plants, which to many are reminiscent of stultifying municipal gardening and even of floral clocks, will become

Budget cuts meant that the commissioning of a glass statue at the entrance, of ‘misting’ in the birch grove and of additional benches, has been delayed. Peter Stickland is confident that they will all happen in the end – and doubtless, given the nature of the garden, they will appear without any explanation.

In contrast to the annuals, all the materials used have a great sense of permanence. The stained glass windows are contained between English limestone framing, whereas the limestone for the bench, needed in larger pieces, came from the Massangis quarry in Burgundy, France. Paving is with narrow brick pavers, arranged in a herringbone pattern inside the poustinia.

Landscape Winter 2015 67

Feature

Prairie garden plant list Area 1A Lilium × dalhansonii – hybrid martagon lily Actaea simplex ‘James Compton’ – baneberry ‘James Compton’ Astilbe chinensis var. taquetii ‘Purpurlanze’ – astilbe ‘Purpurlanze’

Area 5 Stachys officinalis ‘Hummelo’ – betony ‘Hummelo’ Amsonia tabernaemontana var. salicifolia – eastern bluestar Sanguisorba menziesii – Menzies’ burnet Echinacea tennesseensis – Tennessee coneflower

Area 1B Sesleria autumnalis – autumn moor grass Anthericum liliago – St Bernard’s lily Actaea rubra f. neglecta – red baneberry Campanula poscharskyana ‘E.H. Frost’ – campanula ‘E.H. Frost’

Area 6 Leucanthemella serotina – autumn ox-eye Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ – sneezeweed ‘Moerheim Beauty’ Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ – giant hyssop ‘Blue Fortune’

Area 2 Anthericum liliago – St Bernard’s lily Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta – lesser calamint Geranium wlassovianum – hardy geranium

Area 7 Monarda ‘Snow Queen’ – bergamot ‘Snow Queen’ Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Firetail’ – red bistort ‘Firetail’ Molinia caerulea subsp. caerulea ‘Heidebraut’ – purple moor grass ‘Heidebraut’

Area 3 Anthericum liliago – St Bernard’s lily Serratula seoanei – knapweed Geranium soboliferum – hardy geranium Area 4 Amsonia hubrichtii – Hubricht’s bluestar Salvia × sylvestris ‘Pink Delight’ – perennial sage ‘Pink Delight’ Molinia caerulea subsp. caerulea ‘Moorhexe’ – purple moor-grass ‘Moorhexe’ Knautia macedonica – Macedonian scabious Eryngium bourgatii – Mediterranean sea holly

Area 8 Monarda ‘Snow Queen’ – bergamot ‘Snow Queen’ Astilbe ‘Deutschland’ – astilbe ‘Deutschland’ Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’ – false indigo ‘Purple Smoke’ Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’ – tufted hair grass ‘Goldtau’

68 Landscape Winter 2015

11 – High quality hard materials are used throughout.

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Landscape Winter 2015 69

Technical By Keith Sacre

Pruning in the landscape The pruning that happens after planting is different in nature from nursery pruning. It is essential to get it right if your trees are not to suffer problems in future.

‘Pruning is the selective removal of plant parts to meet specific goals and objectives. One of the most compelling goals for trees, planted or naturalised, is a long life span made possible by optimum trunk and branch structure’ Dr Ed Gilman. University of Florida Too many people who are planting young trees in the landscape regard what emerges from the tree nursery as a finished product. They consider that the crown of the tree is formed and can then be allowed to develop without further management. While this may be a perfectly sound approach for field-grown trees which have ample space to develop fully, it is almost certain to be unsatisfactory within the constraints on the urban environment. Here factors such as human safety, proximity to buildings, sight lines, necessary crown height along transport corridors and many others all impact on what is an acceptable branch structure in any given situation. It is a constant truth that many of the problems and potential hazards associated with tree canopy in the urban environment can be prevented when the tree is young. The secateurs and handsaw can pre-empt the use of the chain saw. The branching system forming the young tree crown is, when it is exported 70 Landscape Winter 2015

from the nursery and delivered to the planting site, the branching system that will remain with the tree throughout its life in the landscape unless pruning is undertaken. Branches will thicken and lengthen but their height and position on the tree remain unaltered. A branch emerging from the main trunk at three metres on a 10 year-old will grow considerably larger, with variations for different species, but will still be at three metres 20 years later. Mechanical defects and other potential problems of the future will already be apparent and will only become exacerbated over time as the trees grow. At the nursery much of the pruning work is formative, concerned with the production of a strong dominant leader and a lateral branching system which will not compete with that leader but is subordinated to it by judicious pruning. The prime role of the nursery is to retain the strength of the upright leader while retaining enough photosynthetic integrity to allow the tree to grow. Trees up to 140–160 mm in girth in the nursery will be produced with a clear stem of between 1750mm to 2000mm, yet often the demands of the landscape require stem clearance of anything up to and beyond 3500mm. This means that branches which may be valuable on the nursery are redundant, extraneous and can be considered temporary. However, stem clearance has to be created gradually. It is amusing that often, as a nursery, we

1 – A row of young Sweetgum (Liquiamber styraciflua) which retains its excurrent growth habit with natural leader.

are asked by landscape architects in particular for 200mm girth trees with a clear stem of 3500mm. Such a tree would look like a totem pole with a terminal bud at the end. It is only when the final clear stem height required has been created that the permanent branching system, anything above the final clear stem required, can be developed and the pruning becomes structural rather than formative. Yet such pruning is rarely carried out in the landscape. Branches that are too low on the main stem are often allowed to develop and expand only to become problematic as the tree grows. The importance of the leader or central stem in the nursery has already been mentioned, but the retention of

ould like to start this article with w a quote, which encapsulates much of my argument.

Technical

2 – Competing leaders on a young Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

this leader remains important as the tree develops in the landscape and the structural branching system is developed. While all tree species have clearly identifiable, individual growth characteristics, all broad-leaved deciduous and evergreen trees can be placed into two growth categories. Excurrent trees have a naturally occurring straight leader which remains prominent throughout the life of the tree. An example of this type of growth habit is seen in sweetgum (Liquidambar styriciflua). Decurrent trees, in contrast, lose their leader dominance as they develop. An example of this type of growth habit is seen in sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). Research has suggested that, irrespective of the natural growth habit of the tree, a strong leader should be retained until the tree has reached at least two thirds of its mature height. In the landscape young trees often develop competing leaders. This is where lateral branches below the leading shoot develop in competition with that leader. Each branch on a tree is a semi-autonomous unit and will compete with its neighbour for resources. To retain the dominance of the leader, these competing lateral shoots need to subordinated by pruning. This exercise will have been practised in the nursery but needs to be continued into the landscape once the young tree has been planted. The subordination of laterals also impacts on the diameter of these lateral branches in relation to the diameter of the central stem/trunk stem which is carrying them. Research has indicated that for full structural integrity it is wise that the diameter of the lateral branch is never more than 50% of the diameter of the main stem/ trunk at the branch union. This is the point at which the lateral branch meets the main stem/trunk. This proportional relationship, known also as the aspect ratio, becomes even more important when included bark is present. Included bark occurs where the union between branch and main trunk /stem is incomplete. This fault is often apparent in its early stages on the nursery but does not have serious

implications until the weight of the lateral branch increases with branch growth. Pruning at or shortly after planting is easy and requires minimal effort but allowing this fault to remain will often become difficult and expensive to correct as the tree matures. Failure to remove can and does lead to branch failure on the mature tree with obvious implications. It is impossible to fully describe all aspects of structural pruning in an article of this length. There are many subtleties and variations. These include branch arrangement, spacing between individual branches, crossing branches, branch whorls on the main stem, deformed or duplicating branches and many others. It is also advisable to prune from the outside of the tree rather than pruning branches out of the middle. I have tried to cover a few of the basic principles and differentiate between nursery formative pruning and landscape structural pruning and

emphasise the necessity of landscape structural pruning being programmed into any management plan that is produced for young trees planted from the nursery. The main points are as follows: • The growth and development of young trees is not complete when the tree leaves the nursery. Many of the branches present at the nursery may be only temporary in the landscape. • The branch system that is apparent in the nursery will be retained through to maturity if there is no intervention. • Although there are many similarities, structural and formative pruning differ and those differences need to be understood and implemented in the landscape. • Leader retention and the subordination of co-dominant laterals is an essential part of the structural pruning exercise. • The early removal or subordination of branches with poor branch unions can save money and reduce risk.

Landscape Winter 2015 71

Technical

4 – Young Norway maple (Acer platanoides) where the left side lateral branch has a poor aspect ratio being over 50% of the diameter of the central trunk on its immediate right

Suppress or reduce competing stems Before pruning

Light pruning

Moderate pruning

1. Where is the leader? 1

• You must appreciate that crown development is sequential and gradual rather than a one-off exercise that will last forever. It is also fair to stress that the above cannot be universally applied to either multi-stemmed trees or to conifers. For those trees, different management and pruning regimes will probably be more appropriate. It is also true that structural pruning is an adaptive process which becomes a necessity where people and the urban environment with all its constraints meet with the need and desire for trees.

2. Where is the competition? 2

Keith Sacre has more than 20 years experience in local government as nursery, parks and operations manager. He spent eleven years with Notcutt’s Nurseries with responsibility for tree sales to local authorities and other trade outlets. Currently he is sales director of Barcham Trees.

3. Where to cut the competition? 3