plan, design, implement - landscape services

Plan. Design. Implement.Groundwork Lancashire West & Wigan.Landscape services.

Groundwork Lancashire West & Wigan.Landscape services.

02–03

With a multidisciplinary team including innovative landscape architects, expert community workers, passionate youth workers and experienced hands-on landscapers, we bring a holistic approach to landscape design and management.

We’re the local community charity with a green heart. We provide commercial design and contract expertise whilst providing local employment and training opportunities. Any profit we make is put back into our work of changing places and changing lives.

The landscape specialists Groundwork Lancashire West & Wigan provides a full landscape development service from consultation and design through to construction and maintenance. What sets us apart is our experience of working closely with local communities, putting their needs first.

Contents

02–03 Introduction

04–05 Landscape services

06–07 Public realm

08–09 Access & routeways

12–13 Communities

14–15 Sport & play

16–17 Schools & education

20–21 Parks & open spaces

22–23 Residential & commercial

Landscape architects Our landscape design team comprises chartered landscape architects who draw on a wealth of professional expertise to provide inspiring and creative design solutions.

Community expertsOur community workers can do more than simply consult. We have decades of experience in community engagement and development.

Youth workersWe have a range of techniques in involving young people in the design and development of landscape projects – boosting both their skills and local buy-in.

Employment and trainingWe use the contracts that we win to provide employment and training opportunities to local unemployed people and ex-offenders.

Climate change adaptation and sustainabilityWe understand how land and green infrastructure can be used to help adapt to climate change and prevent future flooding and reduce urban temperatures. Where possible we will always reuse or source recycled materials with a focus on the overall carbon impact of a project.

Funding We’re experts at navigating the maze of funding and making successful applications to funders - local and national, large and small. We can sometimes source funding not accessible by the client via Groundwork’s national corporate relationships and programmes.

The Groundwork edge When choosing Groundwork, our clients have access to a range of skills we think are unique for a landscape practice. In additional to our qualified design team, we offer a range of extra capabilities and strengths:

Our Landscape Architects turn people’s aspirations into reality through inspiring design

Groundwork Lancashire West & Wigan. Landscape services.

04–05

We use interactive consultation and design techniques to help achieve the best possible outcome within budgetary constraints. Our landscape architects know that it is their job to turn people’s aspirations into reality – and find creative ways to meet diverse needs. We understand that well considered and thought out design lowers long term management costs for our clients.

Sustainability is at the heart of our design solutions, alongside quality and usability. We aim to deliver schemes that reduce waste and lessen the environmental impact of a development on its surroundings while remaining cost-effective.

Groundwork Trusts are collectively one of the largest employers of landscape architects. We can call on that wealth of experience to find solutions to your challenges.

Our clients include community groups, local authorities and parish councils, public sector agencies, housing associations and major private sector landowners such as United Utilities. Our work encompasses schools, residential environments, urban public realm and management of green infrastructure.

Importantly, we use the contracts we win to provide employment and training opportunities for local people who are out of work and to ex-offenders through the Blue Sky social enterprise. They benefit from short, fixed term employment, gaining new skills and work experience that help them find permanent jobs which also helps employers address local skills shortages.

Teams are led by fully qualified, experienced staff and carry out work to a consistently high standard.

As well as our own in-house team, we regularly commission select contractors who are assessed for quality, effectiveness and value for money.

Groundwork’s approach, developed over decades, ensures careful monitoring of project progress and spend through each distinct stage of operation.

Our robust systems ensure careful co-ordination of stakeholders and partners and management of project finances.

Landscape architectureOur landscape architecture service focuses on creating landscapes that meet the needs of people. Our approach aims to enhance the environment, building on existing features while transforming perceptions through inspiring design.

Construction and maintenanceWe provide a high quality landscape improvement and grounds maintenance service. This practical hands-on team carries out environmental improvements such as path construction, clearing of vegetation, tree planting and construction of outdoor features.

Our capabilities at each stage of the process include:

Project managementIt’s vital to have the right systems in place to properly manage complex landscape projects.

Stage 1 Scoping and surveys

Stage 2 Consultation

Stage 3 Funding

Feasibility studies / site investigations

Site surveys / project assessments

Landscape visual impact assessments and spatial analysis

Design development / cost estimates and funding advice

Environmental and Ecological impact assessments

Sustainability appraisals

Habitat, hedgerow, national vegetation classification surveys

Client - User integrated design process

Survey design and delivery

Interactive consultation events

Planning for Real

‘Honest broker’ role between landowner and local people

Youth engagement expertise

Online surveys

Strategies and plans for funding applications including the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Woodland Grant Scheme, Environmental Stewardship and the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund

Social enterprise development

Stage 4 Statutory approvals

Planning guidance

Tree preservation orders

Footpath diversion orders

Protected species and habitats

Highways Authority licenses and safety audits

Conservation area compliance

Stage 5 Design process

Stage 6 Implementation

Outline design

Sketch scheme proposals

Detailed proposals

Masterplanning

3D modelling

Photomontage visualisations

In-house capability

Robust tendering procedures

Contract supervision and implementation

Health and safety management

Quality construction service that grows local skills

Volunteer management

Contract management

Stage 7 Landscape management

Conservation plans and historic landscape research

Masterplan production / long term project development assistance

Landscape management plans

Volunteer training and support

Tree and woodland strategies and management plans

Green Flag application management plans

Design. Implement.


06–07

Public realm

New city gardensLeeds City Council

Worn out city centre public space, Victoria Gardens was redeveloped into an attractive green lung for the city that’s worthy of the surrounding architecture.

Funded through Marks & Spencer’s Greener Living Spaces programme, the new public realm design by Groundwork Leeds put sustainability to the forefront. Existing features were renovated rather than replaced and reclaimed and locally sourced materials were chosen where possible.

The space previously featured giant tarmac chess boards which were replaced using Cumbrian stone. A special carved stone chess board and series of interactive bird boxes were designed by artist Alec Finlay and created by local craftspeople.

Other features include eight new art deco inspired benches, improved accessibility for wheelchairs and the planting of 26 box-headed London Plane trees and uplit by low energy LEDs.

Garden in the skyLyric Theatre

A contemporary roof garden on top of the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre is a much needed green retreat in a heavily built-up area, and a relaxing space for theatregoers.

Designed by Groundwork London, the remarkable garden is a living, breathing oasis of subtle lighting, sustainable timber decking, low planters, seating, shrubs and eucalyptus trees. The garden also boasts a bespoke six metre high pergola canopy visible from Hammersmith tube station.

The planting was completed with the support of the Groundwork Green Team; a project helping the long term unemployed learn horticultural skills, and children from the local primary school. Local residents were appointed ‘Garden Guardians’ providing hands-on help to keep it in tip-top condition.

Highly Commended, Design under 1ha, Landscape Institute Awards

Gateway to the OpenLancashire County Council

Poor quality public realm around Lytham and St Annes-on-the-Sea railway stations became an issue for the local authority when the Open Golf Tournament 2012 venue was announced at nearby Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club.

We provided a new dynamic landscape solution to improve the open space around both stations in order to improve the image of these crucial gateways for international visitors to the tournament and in years to come.

Working alongside local interest groups, the design focussed on improving access and surface treatment around the train station entrances. This was achieved through rationalising footpaths, restricting parking, reduction in vegetation and crown lifting, to improve sight lines and overall user feel.

“The roof garden provides a green space for everyone in Hammersmith to enjoy, both day and night.”

Jessica Hepburn, Executive Director, Lyric Theatre

Public realm design

Streetscape design

Public art

Sympathetic heritage design

Urban design

Street tree strategies

Place making

Urban masterplanning

Sustainable urban drainage systems


08–09

Access & routeways

Building a green heartWigan Council

Our historic canals have become important leisure resources. However the towpaths were not constructed for modern use. Along the Leeds - Liverpool Canal between Wigan and Leigh, we have upgraded 6km of towpath, creating a 3m wide multi-user route for the use of pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians.

A bonded weather-resistant foundation was topped by a softer finish preferred by horse riders. New benches were installed with sculptures, interpretation boards, viewing platforms, waymarkers and decorative ironwork. Recycled materials were used for paths and seating.

Work was sensitive as the canal passes next to the Wigan Flashes, which are Sites of Special Scientific Interest. All preparation, drainage and construction works were carried out using our in-house team creating local employment and training opportunities.

Commended, Wigan Urban Design Awards.

Opening up access for allUnited Utilities

This new footpath in Brinscall runs along the route of a hidden watercourse – the River Goit.

The path links the village with other footpath networks including trails around the Anglezarke reservoir, dramatically improving access. In addition the project furthered long term aims to build on the natural heritage of the River Goit and improve the environment for residents and tourism. Built by our in-house contract team, the path is fully accessible to all and includes boardwalks, custom seating and sculpture created through signage.

The work included the creation of a specially designed carved stone bench at the gateway to the site, created through working with children from two local primary schools.

Waterside connections Blackpool Council / Natural England

The North Blackpool Pond Trail initiative links together a historic but little-known network of ponds and wetlands. This green corridor runs through an urban area and includes twenty-three ponds and reedbeds, many of which are Biological Heritage Sites.

Following site surveys, we have undertaken work to transform the path network, improving accessibility both for the local community and a much wider potential audience. An identity has been created for the pond network, including the introduction of branded interpretation boards and waymakers.

The pond trail is a mosaic of nationally important habitats therefore consideration was taken to source local, inert materials that will not leach out contaminates to alter soil pH. Furthermore site works have taken place in winter months, where possible, to minimise disturbance to wildlife.

Winner, Blackpool Civic Trust Open Space Award

Footpaths, cycleways and bridleways

Waterside and canal improvements

Multi-user routes

Road corridors

Linking green infrastructure

Habitat / wildlife linkages

DDA guidance

Route signage and waymarking

Interpretation design“The Groundwork team have been fantastic to work with, demonstrating a high level of professionalism from concept design, to production of project drawings and detailed design, to execution of the project site works, excellent site supervision and the implementation of an excellent health and safety regime... On time, on budget, great safety record!”

Eddie Boyle, B. Eng., Chartered Civil Engineer, Project Manager, British Waterways

Project : Blackpool Pond Trail

Client : Blackpool Council & Natural England

Project Value : £260,000

Timescale : 2010-2013

Award : Blackpool Civic Trust Open Space Award


12–13

Communities

Artistic approach to a community greenCommunity Green Wigan Council

The brand new community space forms a new ‘village green’ for the Platt Bridge area. Previously it was a well-used site but lacked facilities for the local residents.

Our design has created a central path, two large connecting seating areas with benches and a mature feature tree for community events. A sustainable urban drainage systems was used for all areas of hard standing utilising a permeable tarmac.

There are natural stone setts that were decorated with the help of local youngsters, using an artistic technique known as ‘Sgraffito’. This technique has been used in Europe since classical times and created a great sense of place.

A 21st century allotment designHesketh Bank Parish Council

We helped the local parish council realise their dream of a brand new large-scale community allotment. Consultation was key as it meant we could work out a layout design that would match user capabilities and needs.

A unique and functional layout was established that included disabled access, raised planters and appropriate provision of parking.

Alongside the masterplanning of the site, we produced a comprehensive feasibility study investigating the opportunity and business case for developing a new permaculture centre at the site.

Award winning space with low carbon impactTrafford Metropolitan Borough Council

Centenary Gardens is a Landscape Institute award-winning urban space developed by Groundwork in Old Trafford.

This project shows that innovative modern design has a place in a community setting. Straight lines were used to align views to the school’s façade and to connect the garden to the outside street context. ‘Natural play’ elements were included and all footpaths are DDA compliant.

The majority of materials were locally obtained including reclaimed timber from diseased poplar trees, reclaimed stone walls, local stone copings, reclaimed stepping stones from a nearby alleyway and compost created from waste from Manchester’s wholesale vegetable market.

Residents committed to locking up the garden every night to protect it from vandalism and agreed to a shared maintenance contract with the local council.

Winner, Design under 1ha, Landscape Institute Awards

“The garden is absolutely fantastic - way beyond our wildest expectations. The pupils head straight to the garden after school and play on the decking and boulders while their parents sit and look on.”

Tony Rae, Head of Seymour Park Primary School

Community gardens

Allotment and growing spaces

Community-led design

Village green design

Community consultation

Assisting constituting allotment associations

Pragmatic cost solutions

Design for access

Horticultural training


14–15

Sport & play

Bringing the seaside to a Wigan nurseryWigan Children and Young Peoples Services

Groundwork was commissioned to design a high quality dynamic play area that would help attract parents to attend the Atherton Children’s Centre and find out more about the Surestart services.

Young children don’t have preconceived ideas about the form of a play area, so this gave us the chance to push for something unique. We captured the young children’s ideas by working with a specialist artist. The children chose a seaside theme which led to us designing a play area developed around a central pirate ship. There is extensive use of recycled materials in the finished site, and sympathetic boundary treatment created a secure play space for the nursery.

Highly Commended Wigan Urban Design Awards

Play solution for a challenging siteLondon Borough of Haringey

Stationers Park was loved for its wooden fort – but after 25 years it had become dangerous. Replacing it was too expensive, so Groundwork London’s task was to work with the community to find a realistic design solution for the play space. Consultation took place with the Friends of Stationers Park and local children and park users to create a new vision.

The masterplan was for a playscape which would make maximum use of the space but be installed in phases as funding became available. It capitalised on the unusual topography of the site and created a new series of play features reflecting the features of the old fort but providing far more play value to a broader age group. By including play features accessible from ground level, the new playground is more accessible to children of different abilities.

Innovative outdoor gym Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

A disused bowling green in Shaw Heath Park, Stockport, has been given a new lease of life as an outdoor gym.

Groundwork Manchester undertook extensive community consultation about the future of the site which demonstrated a need for improved local low-cost exercise facilities. After analysing options the decision was made to choose innovative outdoor gym equipment.

After installation, an information leaflet and interpretation panel was created to provide visitors with information about the equipment including suggested exercise routines of different intensities.

“The service was superb. We had a really helpful landscape architect assigned to the project that took care of us every step of the way. The play area is colourful, easily accessible and lots of fun for the families and children who use it.”

Clare O’Malley, Co-ordinator, Atherton Children’s Centre

Play area design

Natural play design

Mutli-use games area

Sports facilities

BMX / skateparks

Ball court areas

Outdoor gyms

User group consultation

Maintenance schedules


16–17

Outdoor classrooom areaSt. Catherine of Siena R.C. Primary School, Lowton

A derelict overgrown patch of ground and woodland area adjacent to the school has been transformed into a productive and beneficial outdoor environmental education space for local school pupils and community groups.

The brief asked us to help pupils study curriculum subjects in the school grounds. In response we created a variety of character spaces including a geography garden, weather garden, memory garden, bird garden, sensory flower garden, arts corner and outdoor boulder classroom.

A formal, meandering path and boardwalk within the existing woodland area have also created a safe woodland walk from the environmental education garden.

Winner Wigan Urban Design Awards.

Wildlife oasis St Stephens C of E Primary School, Preston

When water company United Utilities built a new storm tank under the grounds of St Stephen’s C of E Primary School, they asked Groundwork to work with pupils to create a new landscape above.

Our landscape architects came up with a transformational design and our construction team cleared the site and built the compete project.

The end result? A colourful oasis that’s a haven for animals and plants, and an inspiring learning environment for the children. It features an educational hardstanding area, wildflower meadow, pond, orchard, bird hide, outdoor classroom with stone seating circle and sensory plants.

A space for learning and play St. Catherine of Siena R.C. Primary School, Lowton

We worked with the school to create a dedicated play and learning space for the youngest pupils, featuring a series of different areas of landscaping that reflect different aspects of the natural environment.

There’s a sand and water island where children get their hands dirty next to a driftwood bay made with natural timber. A sensory path leads to a central cabin situated at the foot of the ‘mountain’ with a musical forest as a backdrop. Furthermore a secret mountain passage leads children to a quiet seating area with whistling windpipes.

The design is intended to inspire imaginative play that combines creativity with learning. With areas for both quiet contemplation and more boisterous play.

Our in-house team cleared the site, carried out all construction and undertook a ongoing maintenance programme.

“The garden looks stunning, and we are very grateful to United Utilities and Groundwork for making it possible. Where there was once a patch of disused land with weeds and brambles, there is now an exciting, interactive learning space for the children. It will be well-used for many years to come.”

David Sharkey, Head Teacher at St Stephens Primary

Learning environments that link to the national curriculum

Food growing and nature areas

Outdoor classrooms

Stimulating playgrounds

Pupil involvement in the design process

Sensory garden areas

Arts involvement and sculptures

Willow weaving

Woodland walks

Schools & education

Project : Outdoor classroom area

Client : St. Catherine of Siena R.C. Primary School, Lowton

Project Value : £35,000

Timescale : 2009-2010

Award : Wigan Urban Design Awards - Winner

Historical parks

Pocket parks

Tree planting strategies

Community woodlands

Nature reserves

Management programmes

Community custodianship

Heritage lottery fund applications

Green infrastructure


20–21

Parks & open spaces

A brand new parkWest Lancashire Borough Council

We started with a completely blank space – and worked with local residents and the parish council to design a new and dynamic park for the local community. From start to finish, we managed the process through the complete design, tender, contract administration and implementation stages.

The new Banks Park, funded through section 106 income, incorporates a new play area, skatepark and sensitive landscaping. The park was constructed from spray concrete, and the playground contained sand based, DDA-compliant play equipment. A tree planting strategy aimed to green the area while maintaining safety minimal maintenance requirements.

A nature reserve and training ground Wigan Council

Amberswood is a 160 hectare nature reserve at the heart of Wigan’s Greenheart regional park. Created through mining, it’s now a mix of wildlife habitats.

Groundwork combined our landscape design, construction and community development skills to establish a new gateway and green infrastructure project through Amberswood common – linking local landmark Haigh Hall with the Leeds & Liverpool Canal through new multi-user footpaths, wildlife corridors and enhanced woodland management.

We used the work to provide valuable training opportunities to both graduate volunteers and local unemployed young people, who took the lead on engaging with the local community and publicising this valuable landscape. This is a cost-effective model of carrying out green space improvements – using properly supported volunteers who are genuinely benefiting by learning easily transferable skills.

Reinvention of a Victorian parkWest Lancashire District Council

Stanley Coronation Park, created by the Victorians, had fallen into disrepair and wasn’t meeting the needs of the local community.

Working with West Lancashire District Council and the local community, Groundwork created a design concept that made the park safer by opening up sight lines and restructuring some of the spaces. In-turn a space that provided well-defined safe routes through the park while being sensitive to heritage features was created.

Existing amenities were enhanced and new features included informal seating terraces, an outdoor adult fitness area and art created by local young people.

“Older people in Skelmersdale remember the park as the heart of their community. It was incredible to be able to play a part in bringing it back to life”

Kate Jackson, Landscape Architect Groundwork


22–23

Residential & commercial

Access improvements for sheltered accommodationWigan & Leigh Housing

Groundwork was commissioned by Wigan & Leigh Housing to design and manage major landscape improvement works to Cherry Tree Grove - a residential housing scheme physically impaired people.

We worked with the client and residents to design a new series of footpath networks and outdoor spaces. This included drying areas that met the needs of people with varying levels of ability. The end result dramatically improved accessibility and created an environment that was fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Residential roof gardenPlaces for People Preston

Groundwork was commissioned to create a roof garden at Empire House in Preston City Centre – a densely urban area with little green space.

The built elements are mainly constructed from treated softwood keeping weight to a minimum and by using the latest green roof technology and growing mediums the site benefits from a substantial planting scheme.

Height changes in the features of the garden provide variation for a rich design. The central pergola snakes across the site, connecting access points to the roof garden and providing privacy for those in the garden from the surrounding properties. Raised planting beds of varying heights appear as scattered leaves from the on-looking flats with the perimeter planting beds helping to enclose the space and acting as informal seating.

Greening alleywaysReassurance Plus Blackpool

Back alleyways behind terraced housing and tourist accommodation in central Blackpool had become a dumping ground for fly tippers and a grimy hiding place for anti-social behaviour.

We worked with local residents to understand their aspirations for the future use of each alley when turned into private gated spaces. These were used to inform surface treatments such as block paving, granite sets, resin bond gravel and spray play.

The project converted litter-strewn alleys into safe green spaces for residents combining play spaces with areas for relaxation and local food growing.

“Groundwork provided a design solution that enhanced the environment and open space of the residents. Realising our objectives with regards to project management, budget and quality made the overall project a great success for everyone involved.”

Leanne Seddon, Project Manager, Wigan & Leigh Housing

Masterplanning

Designing out crime

Residential improvements

DDA advice

Shared space ‘homezones’

Alleygating

Industrial estates and business parks

Secure by design

Roof gardens

Groundwork Lancashire West & Wigan74-80 Hallgate Wigan, WN1 1HP

Tel: 01942 821444www.groundwork.org.uk/[email protected]

Company number: 1764848 Charity number: 514727

Thanks to:Groundwork Leeds Groundwork London Groundwork Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside & Trafford Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale

Written and edited by: Jon Kedwards Design: www.futuredc.co.uk

For further information about our work, please contact us.

Printed with vegetable inks onto 100 % post-consumer waste recycled paper

plan, design, implement - landscape services

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