Award-Winning Plans for Nationally Important Landscapes

Award-Winning Plans for Nationally Important Landscapes

Award-Winning Plans for Nationally Important Landscapes
20 November 2025

We were thrilled to win the Landscape and Parks Management Award at the 2025 Landscape Institute Awards, recognising our work with Forestry England to prepare a new masterplan for Bedgebury National Pinetum. This award celebrates excellence in the management of existing landscapes, demonstrated through a written plan or strategy.



The judges commented that the masterplan:

“Sets a benchmark in the presentation of a management plan – innovative, forward-thinking and digitally immersive. The accessible, visually engaging format enables the user to understand the complexities of the site, issues and opportunities.”

Interactive proposals map from the Masterplan

Emma Bacon tending to Wollemi Pine (© David Jenner)

Wollemi Pine being planted out (© David Jenner)

Bedgebury National Pinetum is home to one of the world’s largest and most complete conifer collections, a centre for tree conservation, scientific research, and a place where people connect with trees. As Bedgebury celebrates its Centenary, the Landscape Institute award provides a fitting highlight to a landmark year that included multiple events and a visit from His Majesty King Charles III. To hear the story of the Pinetum and to find out more about the important work being done there, please visit Forestry England’s ‘100 Years of Bedgebury‘.


The Bedgebury Landscape Masterplan is the result of close collaboration between our client and TEP’s Landscape Architects, Landscape Managers, Ecologists and GIS specialists. Our shared vision was to prepare technically robust, cross-cutting proposals and to communicate them in an innovative and visually engaging way. We are grateful for the support of all the staff at Bedgebury, but particular thanks must go to Dan Luscombe (Curator) and Emma Bacon (Nursery Supervisor) who helped us bring the plan together.


This project forms part of a wider body of work in which we support our clients to formulate plans and strategies for nationally important landscapes.


Our work with Forestry England has continued through 2024-25, with the preparation of the Thetford Forest Resilience Plan. Thetford Forest, in East Anglia, is the UK’s largest manmade lowland forest. The plan, which is available on the Thetford Forest website, sets out how the forest can adapt over the next 50 years to the threats posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, pests and pathogens, and increasing recreational & development pressures. As with the Bedgebury masterplan, the plan is presented in an engaging on-line format.

We have been impressed with TEP’s ability to translate complex issues into a clear compelling story. Thoughtful use of high-quality spatial and graphical products, combined with their thorough understanding of environmental and landscape planning, transformed our ideas and collections of facts into an engaging, well supported plan.

– Lucie Jerabkova (Resilience Programme Manager, East District, Forestry England)

New permanent open habitat, Kings Wood, Thetford

In May 2025, the North Kent Woods and Downs National Nature Reserve (NNR) was designated, as part of the King’s Series of NNRs. Working with CFP Landscape and Heritage, we supported the Kent Downs National Landscape in preparing a comprehensive visitor access and community engagement strategy. The strategy, which now forms part of the management framework for the NNR, is available to view here.

PlantLife’s Ranscombe Farm, North Kent Woods and Downs NNR

The Lost Wetlands Nature Recovery Project will create a thriving wetland landscape in Cheshire and Greater Manchester. TEP supported Natural England, the National Trust, City of Trees and Trafford Council with two linked pieces of work: mapping opportunities for wetland restoration across the project area and developing site design proposals for William Wroe Meadows near Flixton. The project was a 2025 Landscape Institute Award Finalist in the ‘Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement’ category.

The William Wroe Meadows project is an excellent example of how working in partnership can unlock opportunities for nature and our communities. The designs prepared by TEP are incredibly ambitious and exciting, while also practical and deliverable, and are absolutely in line with the drive towards nature recovery.

– Dr Thomas Smart (Senior Officer at Natural England)

Illustrative section through proposed wetland, William Wroe Meadows, Greater Manchester

We are currently working with Swindon Borough Council to prepare a Country Parks Strategy for Swindon. The five country parks in the borough span a great diversity of landscapes, from ancient woodland at Stanton Park to the open grasslands of Barbury Castle in the North Wessex Downs. The strategy, which is informed by extensive community engagement, will set out how these valued landscapes can be enhanced to maximise benefits for both people and nature, and will be published in early 2026.



If you would like to hear more about our services, or require assistance on an upcoming project, please contact our team at tep@tep.uk.com.

Barbury Castle Country Park, Swindon

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TEP colleagues joined industry professionals for an afternoon of rooftop exploration across the capital, discovering how London's elevated spaces are helping to create greener, more sustainable urban environments. Associate Tom Young and Principal Green and Blue Infrastructure Consultant Maggie Fennell Wells attended the London Rooftop Tour hosted by the Green Roof Organisation (GRO), created by rooftop expert Fee Brydon of Where's the Rooftop? and supported by the Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA). The tour took participants on a journey across four distinctive rooftop destinations, showcasing how rooftops can be transformed into valuable green infrastructure, social spaces and biodiversity hotspots within densely populated cities. The itinerary included visits to The Garden at 120, cloudM Tower of London, The Culpeper and concluded with networking at London Bridge Rooftop Bar.
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As Biodiversity Net Gain becomes an increasingly important part of the planning system, local authorities are exploring how their land assets can play a greater role in supporting nature recovery while creating long-term environmental value. To help inform its approach, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council commissioned TEP to assess the Biodiversity Net Gain potential across approximately 500 Council-owned landholdings. Using bespoke desk-based software the project sought to establish a robust baseline of biodiversity value, identify opportunities for habitat enhancement and provide strategic recommendations on how the Council could utilise its land assets to support the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain .
12 August 2026
We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have once again been awarded Investors in People Gold accreditation, recognising our continued commitment to creating an exceptional workplace culture and supporting our people to thrive. Investors in People is an internationally recognised accreditation and framework for improving workplace culture, leadership and people management. Since its launch in 1991, it has helped organisations across the world to lead, support and develop their people more effectively. Today, the framework is used by organisations in over 100 countries and provides a robust benchmark for assessing workplace culture and employee experience. Achieving Gold status is a significant accomplishment and places TEP among a select group of organisations demonstrating outstanding people practices. Only around 28% of Investors in People accredited organisations achieve Gold, highlighting the strength of our culture and commitment to continuous improvement. The assessment process includes an independent evaluation of leadership, communication, employee engagement, learning and development, organisational culture and wellbeing. Colleagues are invited to provide confidential feedback through surveys and interviews, ensuring the accreditation reflects the real experiences of people across the business. This achievement is particularly meaningful because it is based on direct feedback from our people and recognises the positive, supportive and collaborative environment we continue to build together.
19 August 2026
As Biodiversity Net Gain becomes an increasingly important part of the planning system, local authorities are exploring how their land assets can play a greater role in supporting nature recovery while creating long-term environmental value. To help inform its approach, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council commissioned TEP to assess the Biodiversity Net Gain potential across approximately 500 Council-owned landholdings. Using bespoke desk-based software the project sought to establish a robust baseline of biodiversity value, identify opportunities for habitat enhancement and provide strategic recommendations on how the Council could utilise its land assets to support the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain .
12 August 2026
We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have once again been awarded Investors in People Gold accreditation, recognising our continued commitment to creating an exceptional workplace culture and supporting our people to thrive. Investors in People is an internationally recognised accreditation and framework for improving workplace culture, leadership and people management. Since its launch in 1991, it has helped organisations across the world to lead, support and develop their people more effectively. Today, the framework is used by organisations in over 100 countries and provides a robust benchmark for assessing workplace culture and employee experience. Achieving Gold status is a significant accomplishment and places TEP among a select group of organisations demonstrating outstanding people practices. Only around 28% of Investors in People accredited organisations achieve Gold, highlighting the strength of our culture and commitment to continuous improvement. The assessment process includes an independent evaluation of leadership, communication, employee engagement, learning and development, organisational culture and wellbeing. Colleagues are invited to provide confidential feedback through surveys and interviews, ensuring the accreditation reflects the real experiences of people across the business. This achievement is particularly meaningful because it is based on direct feedback from our people and recognises the positive, supportive and collaborative environment we continue to build together.
10 August 2026
TEP colleagues joined industry professionals for an afternoon of rooftop exploration across the capital, discovering how London's elevated spaces are helping to create greener, more sustainable urban environments. Associate Tom Young and Principal Green and Blue Infrastructure Consultant Maggie Fennell Wells attended the London Rooftop Tour hosted by the Green Roof Organisation (GRO), created by rooftop expert Fee Brydon of Where's the Rooftop? and supported by the Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA). The tour took participants on a journey across four distinctive rooftop destinations, showcasing how rooftops can be transformed into valuable green infrastructure, social spaces and biodiversity hotspots within densely populated cities. The itinerary included visits to The Garden at 120, cloudM Tower of London, The Culpeper and concluded with networking at London Bridge Rooftop Bar.