Surrey Hills Landscape Assessment
Prospect Practice Profile
Gill Binks, John Dyke, Chris Burnett and Julia Drage have formed the new partnership, PROSPECT, to develop innovative and interesting projects in historic landscape conservation and interpretation, and landscape character appraisal and management.
Landscape conservation increasingly involves issues of bio-diversity, sustainable economic development, community and heritage. To address these we bring together skills in landscape planning and design, archaeology, ecology, conservation and management of historic buildings, heritage tourism, interpretation and community development in our project teams. We often also include artists, writers, and photographers
We have an excellent track record of successful, innovative projects over many years for clients in the public, private and voluntary sector in Britain and Europe
We undertake landscape character assessments; strategic policy studies; restoration and management plans for historic parks and gardens; feasibility studies and interpretation plans for historic sites. We plan, design and implement projects on the ground. We also write and contribute to advisory publications and run training courses for practitioners
Our clients include the Countryside Agency, English Heritage, English Nature, Environment Agency; Arts Council, National Trust; the EU; local authority planning, economic development, conservation and archaeology departments; private landowners: and developers.
Some Recent Projects
Landscape planning and assessment -
Landscape character assessment of the Surrey Hills AONB. For Countryside Commission, Surrey County Council, and Arts Council.
Landscape Assessment of Historic Battlefields on the English Heritage Register'. For English Heritage.
Preparation of the strategic statement on the potential of historic battlefields on the E H Register for development as heritage sites. For English Heritage.
Does organic make a difference? An appraisal of the landscapes of organic farms. For the Countryside Commission.
Ecological appraisal and management plans
Strategies for managing Derbyshire woodlands and grasslands in Cheshire. For English Nature
Restoration Plans for Historic Parks and Gardens
Restoration plan for Repton's park at Attingham. For The National Trust.
Restoration plan for the designed park and gardens and the historic landscape of Cuerden Country Park. For Lancashire Wildlife Trust.
Paradise Regained: New life for old gardens - a historic landscape rejuvenation project with partners in Italy and Portugal. Supported by the EU Rafael programme. Historic Site conservation and development plans Feasibility study of development of Brockham Lime Works as a visitor attraction. For Surrey County Council.
Study of the conservation requirements and visitor attraction potential of Brean Down and Brean Down Fort. For English Heritage, National Trust and Sedgemoor District Council.
Heritage tourism and landscape Interpretation
Developing heritage trails with local communities in Slovenia and Bulgaria. (With Ecotourism and ECOVAST). An EU funded project.
A strategy for access and interpretation for the Wiltshire Downs AONB. For the Wiltshire Tourism Project.
Planning and implementing a programme of landscape interpretation projects, promoting sustainable tourism in the Ionian Islands. For Friends of the Ionian,
Contribution to 'A Sense of Place. An Interpretive Planning Handbook'. For the Tourism and Environment Initiative, Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Art and Landscape
Water and Well-being. Introducing water features in designed landscapes.
For Manchester Metropolitan University and Fountain Workshop.
Landscape from a different perspective. Working with artists on the Surrey Hills AONB Landscape Assessment. For Countryside Commission and Arts Council
Gillian Binks BA was Co-Director of the Centre for Environmental Interpretation from 1980-1997. She ran the advisory service on interpretation for the Countryside Commission from 1987-96 and has written several advisory publications for practitioners. She now works as an independent consultant. She has many years' experience of historic and cultural landscape interpretation, undertaking policy and strategic planning and feasibility studies for heritage tourism in Britain and Europe.
Chris Burnett BSC, BLD, MLI established his registered landscape design practice Chris Burnett Associates in 1985 and since that time has acquired considerable experience in landscape design and implementation and landscape restoration. He has prepared plans and proposals for successful funding bids for HLF projects and MAFF stewardship schemes. He has worked as a consultant on Manchester Airport's second runway project. He is a project monitor for the HLF. He is a partner in MAPmakers.
Julia Drage. BSc.
Julia Drage is a freelance ecologist with extensive experience of ecological surveys of a wide range of habitats; the preparation of conservation plans and policies; and site management plans. She previously worked for the Nature Conservancy Council. She was a founding partner of Waverton Wildflowers nursery.
John Dyke BSc., MA (Landscape Design), MA (Conservation Studies), MLI
John Dyke is a landscape architect specialising in historic landscape restoration and management. He has worked on historic sites, conservation areas, registered parks and gardens and scheduled ancient monuments in Australia, Europe and the UK. He is a Director of Friends of the Ionian, promoting sustainable tourism activities in the Ionian Islands. He is a partner in Mapmakers.
