With an effective landscape management plan in place, you can get the most out of your outdoor space. Going beyond the initial planting or architectural designs, landscape management helps gardens, parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) continue to flourish for years to come.
Let’s take a look at what our landscape management plans entail and how they encourage sustainability, biodiversity, and a thriving environment.
What is the difference between landscape management and maintenance?
Landscape management and maintenance go hand in hand, and both are vital for creating and looking after natural spaces. However, landscape management involves a strategic approach that looks at what maintenance needs to be put in place for long-term sustainability. It’s a broad practice that covers lots of elements.
Landscape maintenance puts landscape management plans into action, carrying out the day-to-day and seasonal tasks required to achieve the overarching goals.
What is a landscape management plan?
Landscape management plans can be designed for a broad range of spaces and developments — from public parks and commercial gardens to rewilded green corridors. The aim is to look after the space, ensuring it stays cared for and retains — or improves — its ecological features.
Following on from landscape design, management keeps up the positive work so that green and urban spaces can be enjoyed by both visitors and wildlife.
Our landscape professionals split the task into two main sections:
Landscape assessment
This is where we look at the area’s current features to see how the existing environment can be protected and how we can improve it. The assessments can include:
Landscape audits, which help us understand how the space works, from its topography to its bodies of water, as well as allowing us to identify any problem areas.
Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments (LVIAs), which evaluates how proposed changes will affect the site’s physical and aesthetic qualities. Learn more about Visual Impact Assessments.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIAs), which looks at how any proposed changes will affect the space’s environment — from biodiversity and air quality to noise or traffic.
2. Landscape management planning
We’ll then develop a bespoke landscape management plan that factors in the location's unique features. Every landscape is different and will need a tailored approach that not only looks at the existing conditions but takes into account how the landscape will evolve over time.
Each plan will set out clear objectives that aim to maximise the landscape’s ecology and usability. This might be to help grow food, support renewable energy generation, provide a community space, or offer a biodiverse haven.
What does a landscape management plan include?
Our landscape management plans are designed with a long-term approach to ensure the space is looked after to the highest standards and continues to increase its ecological value. Because no two sites have the same environment, biodiversity, or requirements, the details of the plan will vary.
With this in mind, we coordinate a tailored solution that may include some or all of the following services:
A site restoration strategy to give a neglected landscape a new lease of life
Proposals for changing the use of the space, for example, creating a conservation area or opening parts of the landscape up for public use and enjoyment
A budget and resources analysis, plus project cost estimates
Advice on how to manage and maintain the space after any changes or developments. This might include, for instance:
Vegetation management
Invasive species control
Habitat creation
Seasonal maintenance
Admin and contract supervision to ensure teams are in place to carry out the right care and maintenance
What are the benefits of hiring landscape planners?
It’s evermore important to protect and nurture natural landscapes. Whether it’s an urban park or a conservation area, these spaces are vital to wildlife and human wellbeing. As such, the ongoing maintenance deserves professional attention.
Long-term strategy: By partnering with landscape planners who have a deep understanding of ecology, you can benefit from strategic, long-term plans that account for how it will evolve. They will be able to advise on helping the landscape develop in a healthy, sustainable way.
Compliance: Our team comprises experts in arboriculture, ecology, landscape design, and architecture. Between us, we have a broad knowledge of complex regulatory issues and can make sure your landscape management plan stays compliant every step of the way.
Cost-effective projects: With landscape professionals on your team, you can keep ongoing maintenance costs down with less wastage. An effective strategy will mean less trial and error, the prevention of costly issues such as erosion or waterlogging, and more efficient maintenance schedules.
Bespoke plans: Landscape professionals know just how different every environment is and that finding balance and sustainability requires a tailored approach. They’ll be able to put a custom plan in place that accounts for every nuance and unique feature a site has to offer.
Relationship development: We understand the importance of developing positive relationships with landowners, stakeholders, and members of the public when making any changes to a landscape. Our professionals can liaise with different stakeholders to ensure all parties involved are working towards the same goal.
Why choose Lizard Landscape Deisgn & Ecology for support with landscape planning?
Over the past 24 years, we’ve developed effective and sustainable landscape management plans for educational facilities, green infrastructure, spaces in the public realm, and more.
Our experienced team is passionate about creating beautiful, biodiverse spaces that bring value to stakeholders, visitors, and wildlife. We combine creative landscape design with practical management plans — always informed by sustainability — to bring outdoor spaces to life.
To learn more about our services and to discuss your landscape project, please feel free to get in touch.