Boundless Parks, Naturally!
Client: Torfaen County Borough Council (key funding from Interreg IIIb and the Welsh Development Agency)
TACP formed part of a team of specialist consultants lead by Ian Parkin Heritage and Tourism that compared and contrasted the approaches of protected landscape within Europe to visitor management, interpretation, education and landscaped ‘gateway’ entrance points. Three protected landscapes were used as case studies: Blaenavon World Heritage Site, Torfaen, Regionaal Landschap Kempen en Maasland, Belgium and Natuurmonumenten Veluwezoom, Netherlands and formed the basis for the final publication ‘Guidelines for the Design of Gateways to Outstanding Landscapes’ a designers toolkit to the development and design of gateway sites.
The report identified the need for high quality landscape design as an essential part of the planning, design and development of sustainable gateways. Establishing a comprehensive design guide ensures gateway sites have a recognisable identity that reflects the overall branding and quality of the protected landscape.
Local distinctiveness and vernacular detailing should be used as a basis for the core design through the choice of appropriate materials, plant species, colours and textures in conjunction with consultation with local people and stakeholders to stimulate a sense of ownership and caring for the landscape.
The final document can be downloaded from
www.boundlessparks.com.
