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

22 April 2026
Delivering major infrastructure in sensitive environments requires a coordinated approach, bringing together a range of expertise to understand place, manage risk and support informed decision-making. Our work on the North Hykeham Relief Road (NHRR) in Lincolnshire is a strong example of this in practice, with teams from across TEP working together to support the delivery of this long-planned scheme. A long-planned piece of infrastructure The NHRR forms the final section of Lincoln’s ring road, a scheme that has been identified in Local Plans for around twenty years. As the project progressed, it required careful consideration of environmental constraints, historic assets and landscape character, alongside the practicalities of delivering a major new road. Working alongside Balfour Beatty and the wider project team, we provided a range of services spanning heritage and archaeology, planning, landscape, ecology and arboriculture. A coordinated programme of assessment and support underpinned the development of the scheme. Our Historic Environment team established the baseline through desk-based assessment, consultation and phased archaeological evaluation. This work identified areas of interest including sites of prehistoric activity, the important Roman road of Ermine Street, and a potential Roman villa complex, providing valuable insight into the long-term history of the site. These findings directly informed the design process, helping to shape the scheme in response to the site’s archaeological and historical context. The team also assessed potential impacts on sensitive heritage assets, including listed buildings and conservation areas, ensuring that the historic environment was fully considered as the project evolved.
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TEP is proud to be partnered with the award-winning initiative Time for Geograph y, whic h showcases the importance of geography and the diverse careers it can lead to. Time for Geography is a free, online education platform reaching schools and universities across the UK. Through a series of engaging video resources, it brings geography to life in the classroom, connecting academic learning with real-world challenges such as sustainability, climate change, urban planning and environmental management. Our contribution to the initiative forms part of the platform’s Careers Collection, where our team shares insight into the varied and rewarding pathways geography can open up. These resources are designed to help students understand how their studies translate into professional roles, offering a clearer view of the opportunities available within the environmental sector. We’re delighted that this collaboration has been recognised with a Highly Commended Geographical Association Publishers Award , which celebrates the careers-focused videos and resources developed to guide students towards further education and careers in our industry. With an audience of over 2.5 million this year, Time for Geography is a powerful example of how education and industry can come together to inspire future talent, showing how a subject studied in the classroom can lead to meaningful, real-world careers. For many of our colleagues at TEP, that journey began with a simple interest in geography at school. Today, that interest has grown into careers spanning ecology, arboriculture, heritage, planning, landscape design and environmental management. By sharing these experiences, we hope to encourage the next generation to see geography not only as a fascinating subject, but as a pathway into work that makes a tangible difference. We’re proud to support an initiative that is helping shape the future talent pipeline for our sector, and to inspire the environmental specialists of tomorrow. Learn more and watch our video: 
22 April 2026
Delivering major infrastructure in sensitive environments requires a coordinated approach, bringing together a range of expertise to understand place, manage risk and support informed decision-making. Our work on the North Hykeham Relief Road (NHRR) in Lincolnshire is a strong example of this in practice, with teams from across TEP working together to support the delivery of this long-planned scheme. A long-planned piece of infrastructure The NHRR forms the final section of Lincoln’s ring road, a scheme that has been identified in Local Plans for around twenty years. As the project progressed, it required careful consideration of environmental constraints, historic assets and landscape character, alongside the practicalities of delivering a major new road. Working alongside Balfour Beatty and the wider project team, we provided a range of services spanning heritage and archaeology, planning, landscape, ecology and arboriculture. A coordinated programme of assessment and support underpinned the development of the scheme. Our Historic Environment team established the baseline through desk-based assessment, consultation and phased archaeological evaluation. This work identified areas of interest including sites of prehistoric activity, the important Roman road of Ermine Street, and a potential Roman villa complex, providing valuable insight into the long-term history of the site. These findings directly informed the design process, helping to shape the scheme in response to the site’s archaeological and historical context. The team also assessed potential impacts on sensitive heritage assets, including listed buildings and conservation areas, ensuring that the historic environment was fully considered as the project evolved.
21 April 2026
Bringing the world of books to life for blind or visually impaired children
22 April 2026
Delivering major infrastructure in sensitive environments requires a coordinated approach, bringing together a range of expertise to understand place, manage risk and support informed decision-making. Our work on the North Hykeham Relief Road (NHRR) in Lincolnshire is a strong example of this in practice, with teams from across TEP working together to support the delivery of this long-planned scheme. A long-planned piece of infrastructure The NHRR forms the final section of Lincoln’s ring road, a scheme that has been identified in Local Plans for around twenty years. As the project progressed, it required careful consideration of environmental constraints, historic assets and landscape character, alongside the practicalities of delivering a major new road. Working alongside Balfour Beatty and the wider project team, we provided a range of services spanning heritage and archaeology, planning, landscape, ecology and arboriculture. A coordinated programme of assessment and support underpinned the development of the scheme. Our Historic Environment team established the baseline through desk-based assessment, consultation and phased archaeological evaluation. This work identified areas of interest including sites of prehistoric activity, the important Roman road of Ermine Street, and a potential Roman villa complex, providing valuable insight into the long-term history of the site. These findings directly informed the design process, helping to shape the scheme in response to the site’s archaeological and historical context. The team also assessed potential impacts on sensitive heritage assets, including listed buildings and conservation areas, ensuring that the historic environment was fully considered as the project evolved.
21 April 2026
Bringing the world of books to life for blind or visually impaired children
14 April 2026
TEP is proud to be partnered with the award-winning initiative Time for Geograph y, whic h showcases the importance of geography and the diverse careers it can lead to. Time for Geography is a free, online education platform reaching schools and universities across the UK. Through a series of engaging video resources, it brings geography to life in the classroom, connecting academic learning with real-world challenges such as sustainability, climate change, urban planning and environmental management. Our contribution to the initiative forms part of the platform’s Careers Collection, where our team shares insight into the varied and rewarding pathways geography can open up. These resources are designed to help students understand how their studies translate into professional roles, offering a clearer view of the opportunities available within the environmental sector. We’re delighted that this collaboration has been recognised with a Highly Commended Geographical Association Publishers Award , which celebrates the careers-focused videos and resources developed to guide students towards further education and careers in our industry. With an audience of over 2.5 million this year, Time for Geography is a powerful example of how education and industry can come together to inspire future talent, showing how a subject studied in the classroom can lead to meaningful, real-world careers. For many of our colleagues at TEP, that journey began with a simple interest in geography at school. Today, that interest has grown into careers spanning ecology, arboriculture, heritage, planning, landscape design and environmental management. By sharing these experiences, we hope to encourage the next generation to see geography not only as a fascinating subject, but as a pathway into work that makes a tangible difference. We’re proud to support an initiative that is helping shape the future talent pipeline for our sector, and to inspire the environmental specialists of tomorrow. Learn more and watch our video: