Author: Emma Candlin

Discover Your Dream Garden Using CAD Software!

Are you having difficulty visualising your dream garden? Or do you have an idea in mind and would like to see what this could look like?  Well, our CAD software can turn your visualisation into a virtual reality! So, get your dream garden using CAD today!

Here at Pro Hort, our CAD technology can create beautifully planned landscape designs. Our designers tailor these specifically to our client’s specifications and requirements. We have a talented in-house design team that will guide you through the design process. Also, they will discuss your requirements to help you to achieve your dream garden.

Garden Design using CAD vs Manual Design

  • We can edit CAD designs quickly as opposed to modifying manual designs.

We can easy edit and save CAD designs at the click of a button for future moderation and purposes. Therefore, meaning we are able to quickly add any alterations to your final designs if required.

  • CAD software saves time, accelerating workload and overall work efficiency.

This means that using CAD software allows for a quick turnaround. Meaning, it allows our team to handle larger scale projects with ease. Therefore, as a client you will have confidence in our designs.

  • It decreases the chances of human error. Producing overall better-quality and more realistic designs for clients and customers.

Our team produce CAD Designs to scale, which means your landscape gardeners have a more accurate plan to work from.

Dream Garden Using CAD

Our Landscape Design Team’s CAD Process

  1. The team start by doing an onsite visit where they explore the initial garden design ideas further. Also, they will discuss any visual ideas that you may have.
  2. Our team will proceed to measure your garden to scale. Furthermore, they will take plots of the land in order to get the correct gradients inputted into the CAD system.
  3. Following this, we then create a base of the house in CAD. Consisting of: the measurements taken, to make the details as accurate as possible.
  4. The team will then add any final features that are required to the design such as ground for structures/patio areas and leveling etc.
  5. A visual walk through will then be provided of your new dream garden. Where, any finishing touches and modifications can be added to the design, during your CAD meeting with our designers.

For , check out our 3D Landscape Design Service. Alternatively, to make your dream garden a reality, get in touch with one of our friendly team. Or, why not like our Facebook page to keep up to date with our latest news?

 

Why Should I get a Tree Survey?

Specialised tree surveys assess certain characteristics of a tree. To assess, the tree must have a diameter of over 75mm. A tree survey will provide recommendations on any treatment required by the tree. Additionally stating whether the tree requires retaining on the site. The survey will also issue recommendations on requirements for any remedial work.

A tree survey can be a requirement as part of a planning application for a development project. This is particularly the case if the development will affect the surrounding landscape and trees situated within the landscape. Carried out for insurance purposes, tree surveys can be for both commercial and domestic clients.

What Information is Revealed from a Tree Survey?

Tree Surveys and Reports, Health of Your Trees

To be suitable for planning applications, tree surveys should be conducted in line with British Standard 5837-2012. This will ensure that the survey carried out will be to the highest standard. Furthermore it must comply with relevant regulations.

The British Standard BS5837 defines whether certain trees should remain on the property and which ones need removing. The survey assesses information such as:

  • Life expectancy for the trees
  • Species of the trees
  • Ages of the trees
  • Measurements
  • Health

Tree Preservation Orders (TPO)

In some areas, obliged by law, you have to have a tree survey carried out. This is because the area might have a certain species of tree that needs protecting.

Made by the local planning authority, Tree Preservation Orders (TPO) protect trees or groups of trees. Due to factors such as location, amenity value or the fact they are a rare or good specimen.

If a tree is subject to a TPO, all works are prohibited without the planning authority’s written consent. These works include removal, topping, lopping, uprooting or any wilful damage.

On occasions, a TPO has been applied to a tree that does not fit the criteria. Therefore, an argument for the removal of the tree may present itself. Any written consent to complete works on a tree may be subject to conditions.

How We Can Help

At ProHort Ltd, we have a wealth of experience in horticultural, arboricultural, ecological and landscape development. We provide landscape plans, arboricultural surveys, ecological surveys and soil testing and analysis. We also provide a range of other reports detailed on our Services. 

 

ProHort Ltd recommends that you should carry out a tree survey at least once every two years. If any damages were to occur (for example, a tree branch falling on your car) as well as possible injured individuals, claims against property may occur.

 If you require a tree survey, then get in contact with us today to find out more information.

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How To Encourage Wildlife To Your Garden?

Gardens are valuable spaces, not only for us but for a whole host of wildlife too! Encouraging more wildlife into your garden will help to contribute to the wellbeing of a thriving ecosystem. Birds, butterflies, and bees provide a fascinating sight. However, they also help to improve the production of your garden. Hedgehogs, toads, frogs, etc. act as a great pest control which reduces expenditure for pesticides. 

Furthermore, it has been estimated that the UK has lost 97% of its flower-rich grassland since 1930. Therefore, resulting in a reduction of habitats and nesting sites for wildlife! Opening up your garden to wildlife provides additional green space to help protect the species. 

Some Ways To Encourage Wildlife

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4. Ready-Made Homes

If you’re looking to attract a particular type of species. A ready-made home is a great way to attract them! Whether this be a bee hotel, hedgehog house, butterfly house, or even a general hotel for all things bugs! You can buy these products from shops, but why not have a go at making your own? Creating your own is a great way to recycle the odds and ends you have lying around at home. Items such as bricks, woods, hollow bamboo canes, sticks, leaves, etc. can all be useful resources to create the perfect home!

5. Serve Up An Extra Meal

A really easy way of attracting wildlife into your home is by putting out some nuts and seeds. Placing out some feed will entice common birds, including goldfinch, blue tits, sparrows, blackbirds, robins, etc. Putting out additional food for wildlife can be a massive help to wildlife, especially during the winter periods. You could also try leaving food out for other species. Fruit for foxes, mealworms for badgers, cat food also makes a tasty meal for hedgehogs! 

1. Plant Flowers

Flowers are a great way to provide pollen and
nectar to bees, butterflies, and other insects. Ideally, chose flowers that
provide pollen and nectar for as long as possible in a season. Crocus and
Mahonia are excellent choices for spring, alongside Asters, Sedum Spectabile, and Ivy in autumn. Additionally, these autumn flowers are particularly late to bloom – meaning they may provide food into early winter!

2. Plant Other Types of Plants

In addition to flowers, trees, shrubs, climbers, and hedges, etc are a fantastic way to provide food and shelter for wildlife. Larger plants, such as trees, support more wildlife as well as providing food in the form of flowers, fruits and seeds. Moreover, trees provide a strong area for cover and nesting sites for garden animals, insects, and other species such as birds. Smaller trees/shrubs including rowan, crab apple, elder, and blackthorn are good for blossom and berries. 

3. Water

The most effective way to add water into your garden is by installing a pond – which will add great wildlife value! You can build a pond at any time, however if you start building in autumn/late winter, it will become established quicker! If you haven’t got a big enough space in your garden, nor do you wish to dig a big hole in it, then additionally you could create a mini pond. 

Mini ponds should be created with a watertight container, whether this be a plant pot, dustbin lid, bucket, etc. If the container isn’t watertight then add some pond liner. Then add a layer of gravel and rocks. After adding these, you then want to fill your pond with rainwater – due to tap water containing chemicals! Lastly, start planting, you will only need two or three plants. 

WildlifeImage

 

How We Can Help

At ProHort Ltd, we have a wealth of experience in horticultural, arboricultural, ecological and landscape development. We provide landscape plans, arboricultural surveys, ecological surveys and soil testing and analysis. We also provide a range of other reports detailed on our Services

 

Why not take a look at how our sister company can also help! The Oak Pot Company specialises in bespoke oak designs. All our products are handmade using high-quality hardwood. Specialising in Garden Furniture, Garden Accessories and Garden Structures. Some of the products include, bird houses/tables, wildlife picnic benches, etc.  

 

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What Is An LVIA and When Do I Need One?

Firstly, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments (LVIA) can be essential for effective planning decisions. Additionally, identifying the effects that new developments have on views and on the landscape itself. Some developments can have effects on visual aspects – but none on landscape character or vice versa. Furthermore, for large developments through the Environmental Impact Assessment. An LVIA will usually be requested. In summary, this will then form part of a larger document. Containing reports from other professionals such as ecologists, hydrologists, and heritage consultants.

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Subsidence

What Is An LVIA?

Firstly, any development which is likely to have a significant character, or visual impact on an existing landscape should undergo an LVIA. Therefore the LVIA considers the potential effects of the development upon:

 

  • Individual landscape features and elements
  • Landscape character
  • Visual amenity and the people who view the landscape

Overall, the main objectives of the LVIA are as follows:

  •      Firstly describe and evaluate the current landscape/character of the site and its surroundings. Additionally, Identify any notable landscape features within the site.
  •      Determine the sensitivity of the landscape to the type of development proposed.
  •      Identify and describe any changes arising from the project relating to landscape and visual issues. This is defined as the magnitude of change.
  •      Identify and describe any mitigation measures that have been included.
  •      Likewise identify and assess any cumulative landscape and visual effects.
  •      Assess the significance of residual landscape and visual effects.
 

      Additionally, the landscape quality refers to the physical state of the landscape. Focusing on the extent to which certain elements affect individual areas and the landscape condition. To explain, landscape quality is based upon the following criteria:

        1. Highest Quality – Areas comprising a clear composition of valued landscape components
       in robust form and health, free of disruptive visual detractors and with a strong sense of place.

        2. Very Attractive – Areas primarily of valued landscape components combined in an aesthetically pleasing composition and lacking prominent disruptive               visual detractors.

        3. Good Landscape – Areas primarily of valued landscape components combined in an aesthetically pleasing composition with low levels of disruptive visual         detractors.

        4. Ordinary Landscape Areas ‐ Containing some features of visual value but lacking coherent and aesthetically pleasing composition.

        5. Poor Landscape ‐ Areas lacking valued landscape components or comprising degraded features and lacking any aesthetically pleasing composition.

 

When Do I Need An LVIA?

Furthermore, you will need an LVIA to help design the proposed change and assess it’s effects. The assessment is used to ensure that negative landscapes are avoided, reduced or offset.

For example, the proposed change might be a:

  • New road
  • Housing
  • Wind farm or wind turbines
  • Solar farms
  • Mineral extraction
  • Plan for forest felling and restocking

LVIA examines two independent but related aspects:

  •       Landscape effects
  •       Visual effects

Ultimately if you require these studies as part of your planning application, the local planning authority will inform you of this at the pre-application stage. Alternatively, for more information contact us today!

LVIA

 

How We Can Help

ProHort has extensive experience of undertaking Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments. Through LVIAs, we work with our clients to address landscape and visual impact issues at an early stage. Equally, this ensures that proposals work within the local landscape, address any constraints and are acceptable visually. A project which works with the character of the area is more likely to be acceptable to local planning authorities.

Our landscape architects can advise on appropriate design and mitigation measures. This often leads to appearances at public inquiries to present detailed evidence on development proposals.

Here at ProHort we also carry out Landscape Character Assessments (LCA) at a Local Authority level. Landscape Character Assessments identify the unique qualities and features of an area which contribute to local distinctiveness. Our LCAs are used in Local Plans, Transport Strategies and Supplementary Planning Guidance to improve the design quality of new development.

 

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