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| Urquhart & Hunt Landscape Design<br><br>November 2023<br><br>Ballacroak Farm, Isle of Man<br><br>Landscape Statement |
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Landscape Proposal attention to all these aspects. Our clients, and therefore this proposal, aims to create a landscape that combination of location, heritage and ecology, being an agricultural site nestled into the beautiful countryside. As such, it is of utmost importance that we treat this land with careful and considerate is in harmony with the environment and community, while being sensitive to existing ecologies. The property and surrounding landscape of Ballacroak Farm, Isle of Man, possess a unique social purposes at the highest level possible. This will involve the use of naturalistic perennial planting, meadow restoration, new tree and shrub planting as well as other hard landscape elements which Our approach is to design and maintain the landscape so that it serves both environmental and reflect the local vernacular. proliferate. The fields within the site boundary will be allowed to develop into native meadows where In many areas, the wider landscape will be managed less intensively, allowing natural systems to The proposed landscape design is highly sensitive to the native flora and fauna of the island. possible, and local, native seeds and bulbs will be seeded to enhance the natural processes. techniques and conservation measures will be undertaken to safeguard and enhance the landscape ecological significance, it is of the utmost importance that the gardens and surrounding landscape assist in preserving and enhancing the biodiversity of the island. It is vital that careful management With Ballacroak being situated in a UNESCo Biosphere, and with several neighbouring areas of within and surrounding Ballacroak. enhance the existing habitats on site, creating a mosaic of habitats that support a wide range of local pollinators and other invertebrates, providing shelter and food for a number of different native birds, reptiles and other mammals. We will use native shrubs and trees throughout the site to provide and surrounding landscape, as well as enhance the biodiversity of the local ecosystem by attracting Our planting ethos for perennials, shrubs and trees aims to naturalise the house within the wildlife species. movement as it makes its way through the site, as well as assisting with water purification. We will keep New naturalistic planting will aid in the sustainable management of water on site by slowing down its hard landscaping to a functional minimum to aid with natural drainage on site, and the landscaping these wonderful features which integrate human presence within the landscape as they have been materials will be permeable as far as possible and in keeping with the local vernacular. Stone walls and Manx hedge banks will be created as site and field boundaries, continuing a long tradition of doing through the ages. ecologies, working in harmony with the environment and community. We will use naturalistic planting, In summary, our proposed garden at Ballacroak is a landscape design that is sensitive to the existing enhance the biodiversity of the local ecosystem, while providing a space for the inhabitants to enjoy Manx hedge building, meadow restoration, and biodiversity-sensitive management strategies to and connect with the unique landscape of the Isle of Man. Ballacroak FarmNovember 20232
Precedents
Ballacroak FarmNovember 20233
Planting Areas
wildflowers will be sown into grass areas or prepared earth for establishing meadows across the site. This significantly and allow for the natural return of the A local native seed mix of perennial grasses and will increase the biodiversity gain of the project native seedbank in the area
C: Pond
landscape design. These landscape features will also and utilise sustainable local materials and traditional integrate the new development into the landscape ferns will be planted into new Manx banks. These new Manx banks are a major factor in the overall A selection of native shrubs, wildflowers and biodiversity increase that will result from the construction methods. The garden will take the form of perennial borders taking advantage of the ample sun and engaging perennials that benefit pollinators and extend the the views outwards towards the wider landscape. will be orientated to the south east of the house, towards the pond. Border planting will consist of gradually merges with meadows that lead down a mix of native and naturalised species, all hardy providing seasonal interest throughout the year. around the house, which frame a lawn area that season, drought tolerant as far as possible and The primary outdoor living areas and gardens D: Gardens at House native riparian planting, with an emphasis on species and provide habitat and other uses and benefits for native wildlife. Both marginal as well as aquatic and that encourage the imporvement of water quality The pond and surrounding area will include new oxygenating native species will be used. Ballacroak FarmNovember 20234
Planting Areas
screening trees as well as some low hedging to of the house, and includes a water feature and The formal garden is situated at the north side
G: Walled Garden
define boundaries. A variety of native trees selected for their form, site Pinus sylvestris, Quercus petrea, Sambucus nigra suitability and seasonal interest will be planted. All trees to be locally sourced where possible. pubescens, Malus sylvestris, Corylus avellana, Species to include Alnus glutinosa, Betula and Sorbus aucuparia. The walled garden will feature productive / edible trees such as trained or espaliered Malus, Pyrus, species of vegetables and herbs, as well as fruit Mespilus and Cydonia species. Ballacroak FarmNovember 20235 The Vernacular Landscape Ballacroak FarmNovember 20236 Historic drystone wall on the Isle of ManSketch depicting a Manx hedge bankRange of vernacular hedgebanks
By constructing walls and Manx hedgebanks in the vernacular method, we will be preserving the local landscape character of the island, and further
increasing the opportunities for local wildlife to find refuge within our site. The stone walling methods we use will be derived from research into the
traditional materials and walling techniques of the area.
The Vernacular Landscape STANDING STONESTRADITIONAL DRYSTONE WALLSMANX HEDGE BANKS STONE ELEMENTSNEW DRYSTONE WALLSNEW MANX HEDGE BANKS as Manx hedgebanks and Manx sod banks. looking at vernacular building techniques, and historic field boundary elements such ancient earthworks and standing stones, The landscape design takes as its main inspiration the character of the island, traditional construction methoinds to erect new Manx hedgebanks and new drystone materials of the wider landscape into the detail of the garden design, using local We will be incorporating the forms and materials as far as possible, and using walls, as well as steps and other hard landscape elements. In doing so, we will ensure that the gardens the Isle of Man. In embracing these historic against nature, providing habitat niches for construction methods, we will ensure that help to integrate the new house into the landscape, and into the wider context of the built elements work with rather than wildlife and supporting local mosses, lichens and liverworts. Ballacroak FarmNovember 20237
replenishing groundwater stores. New planting in and around the pond will consist of native plant species and care will be taken to prevent any harmful invasive aquatics from
The creation of a large pond in the south region of the garden will provide valuable aquatic and marginal habitat for local wildlife, while also reducing storwater runoff and
colonising, using natural methods and planting species that can outcompete these plants. The banks of the pond will be graded gently so as to ensure access to
and from the water by amphibians and other wildlife.
Water on Site
Ballacroak FarmNovember 20238
Native wildflower meadows HeathlandCommon spotted orchidPeat bogs environment. Some land is now protected by the government to help preserve its of sea level allowed a small number of species to colonize the island by land. The years ago. The short period of time between the melting of glaciers and the rise The Isle of Man became separated from Ireland and the British Isles about 8500 Amongst the patchwork of varied habitats on the Isle of Man are grassland, heathland and moorland, woodland, peat bogs and wetlands, as well as numerous coastal and rocky, mountaineous habitats. Traditional late-cut, island was heavily deforested in the Middle Ages, which weakened its winter-grazed hay meadow in the north of the Isle of Man is home to wildlife. The Isle of Man is part of the UNESCO World Network of Wider Landscapes of the Isle of Man thousands of protected orchids. Biosphere Reserves. Connectivity & Habitat Creation
The landscape design aims to increase wildlife connectivity between the garden, surrounding landscape and wider range of habitats across the island.
natural pond and natural drainage channels,called sod banks, which purify water as much as possible before returning it into the freshwater system
This will be acheieved through the incorporation of drystone walling and Manxhedge banks, which provide multiple opportunitires and niches for
wildlife, wildflowers and native hedgerow shrubs and trees. Water and drainage will be managed according to best ecological practices, with a
of the island.
A wheater on the Isle of ManHedgerows, sod banks and gorse assist wildlife connectivityVernacular drystone wall
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