BALI National Award 2000 - Mainly hard landscaping

English Landscapes worked with the owners of Groombridge Place for 5 years initially carrying out fencing, planting and tree surgery. This was followed by English Landscapes becoming more involved with the client and landscape architect in designing areas of this major visitor attraction.

The most notable result of this has been The Dark Walk - this began as an idea by the Client, taken up by the Landscape Designer and the subsequent structural design undertaken on site by English Landscapes.

Because of the steep terrain and wooded nature of the site, the most practical method of construction was to design and build as the works progressed to ensure that no trees were removed unnecessarily. The intention was to minimise any impact on the surrounding flora and fauna and work with the landscape rather than in spite of it.

Wherever possible local materials were used and natural timber products, manufactured and built on site were the norm. This approach has been deliberate to ensure that the whole of the works have a rustic feel and blend into what are beautiful mature and largely unspoilt woodlands.

The end result has been to produce a series of timber structures that enable visitors to walk through the woods at a high elevation, together with associated play areas.