Design of Walshes Park SANGS

The site was an area of small fields of open grazed grassland, hedges and trees of some 27 hectares to the south-east of Crowborough in the area of Alderbrook. The majority of the site was grazed grassland, divided into 13 fields. There were substantial hedges separating the fields existing, with a number of mature trees in places along their lengths. The northern fields along the line of the stream were naturally wetter and the easternmost of these, bordered on its east side by the track from Walsh Manor with a linear bank forming its western side and rectangular earthworks and two small ponds. These features are a Scheduled Ancient Monument representing part of a medieval moated site.

The potential SANGs provision for major allocated housing development sites within the Wealden District Council area were working towards a strategic avoidance and mitigation strategy for the council. Part of this work included seeking to identify sites suitable for future SANGs provision to mitigate the impact of new developments on the SPA [Ashdown Forest Special Protection Area] The aim of SANGs provision was to divert visitors from using the Ashdown Forest to prevent an overall increase in visitor numbers to the SPA, causing further damage to the protected habitats.

In order to function effectively as SANGs, management measures were necessary, including the provision of facilities to make the site attractive to visitors including all season walking routes, information boards and seating. These measures were carefully considered by PJC through the wider design process working alongside baseline ecological surveys, existing arboricultural surveys and strong protective guidance working around the Scheduled Ancient Monument .

Working closely with the assets team at Wealden District Council, PJC Consultancy produced reports, Landscape masterplans and Detailed designs including proposed planting plans and features including a riverside boardwalk system, a wetland scrape, central vista seating features and landscape avenue features within the SANGs.

Working with WDC to supply 25 year landscape maintenance & management plans to allow WDC to develop their long-term SANGs strategy through to tender stage and delivery on the ground. PJC Consultancy were able to deliver successfully through to its completion and the opening of Walshes Park in 2018.

This successful relationship working with WDC allowed the opportunity to offer further tenders for other SANGs projects with WDC including a successful bid and project through design and completion for their SANGs site in Uckfield known as Horsted Green Park.