Babworth and Hesley Estate – working in operational partnership The privately owned Babworth and Hesley estate in Nottinghamshire dates back to the 18th century.  Nicholsons has provided forestry and woodland management support to Sir Jack Whitaker and his small in-house forestry team and external contractors on a 535ha (1, 321 acre) estate since 2001. Since first instructed, we have [...]

Bradgate Park- bat conservation in ancient parkland trees Bradgate Park offers 335 ha (830 acres) of publicly accessible countryside just a few miles north west of Leicester city centre and is popular with cyclists, dog walkers and ramblers. First enclosed as a deer park around 800 years ago, the landscape is wild and rugged, dotted with rocky outcrops and [...]

Buccleuch Properties—Kettering (Oct 2018) Addressing the balance This 22 ha site, proposed for warehousing, comprised a former ironstone quarry restored to 25% woodland and 75% grassland in the 1980’s. In early consultation feedback with the planning authorities the need for ALC / soil survey was queried. Nicholsons (Formerly Lockhart Garratt) undertook a recce inspection in Spring 2018 including 3 [...]

Wellingborough Golf Club – strategy for woodland management Our team was instructed by Wellingborough Golf Club to devise a strategy for the conservation of their impressive 160-acre parkland. The objective was to create a sustainable, long-term plan for managing ash dieback and safeguarding the overall treescape for future generations to enjoy. The park is covered by several designations and [...]

Nettlebed Estate – managing tree risk Safety first The Nettlebed Estate is located in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and consists of a mixture of woodland, pasture, open farmland and parkland. Also used as a location for shoots, the estate has long been committed to proactive woodland management, with woodland planting undertaken in the early part of the [...]

D Harding – Leek Wootton, Warks (Oct 2017) Sustainable land-use for future investment The owner’s objective for their recently acquired 13 ha ex‐arable field was to create broadleaf woodland as a productive sustainable land-use for future investment and environmental education. Lockhart Garratt was instructed to design that new woodland, to source Forestry Commission (FC) grant and to manage the [...]

Lewis & Scott Retirement Living Ltd. – Tollersbury Landscape masterplanning for a new concept and template for retirement living Lockhart Garratt is currently providing landscape architecture services developing an entirely new concept for retirement community living. The key ambition of the design process is to create an alternative template that offers a safe and inspiring place to live during [...]

A Hidden Gem This back garden is a hidden gem, showcasing just what can be achieved at this scale. The clients had recently downsized and had refurbished the property prior to moving in. The garden has a softness and flow that welcomes you into its heart. The different elements are all drawn together by the meandering lawn. Well placed trees block out neighbouring windows and [...]

Lockdown For The Grandchildren A garden inspired by nature and the restrictions of lockdown. Our wonderful clients, who have had three previous phases built by Nicholsons, wanted to improve their lower garden area to give fun and adventure for the whole family, including a woodland garden and tree house for the grandchildren. [...]

The Hanging Gardens This beautiful south facing garden frustratingly also sloped west to the main Oxford Banbury Road allowing sound to ricochet up into this private garden. The design concentrated on celebrating the southerly views while creating barriers against the western traffic noise. The garden has a formal charm which supports the stunning Edwardian architecture [...]