We were thrilled to win the Landscape & 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.“
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)
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.
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)
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.
