Orbis Naturalis

Should we embrace weeds? Why do we always aim to get rid of weeds? What makes a plant a weed? Can we appreciate the beauty of weeds? What are some common UK weeds? This blog post aims to quickly establish our association with weeds as Landscape Architects and how we might be able to move forward and explore further options that might go against traditional attitudes.  If we look at these examples, many gardeners will shudder at the thought of them invading their manicured spaces, however just because of their competitive nature, should these plants be shunned entirely? They also can have benefits to wildlife, attracting pollinators and insects which help to sustain the wider ecosystem. We should admire their resilience and adaptability to survive in demanding conditions where other plants might fail, these so-called 'weeds' do have a place within our design planting palettes as long as we take care to understand their influence.  Featured below are some common UK weeds accordi...

Brickwork Bond Patterns around Cheltenham The British Standard Metric size for a co-ordinating brick is 215 x 112.5 x 75 mm As part of AD6604 SusTech project 1, I found five different examples of brick bonds around Cheltenham and identified them: EXAMPLE 1: (52 Townsend Street: Terrace House)  TYPE OF BRICK BOND: FLEMISH BOND - alternating stretcher then header with the header placed centrally above the stretcher creates a strong bond and looks visually attractive, especially with these two-tone coloured bricks.  EXAMPLE 2: (Carlton Place: Honeybourne Line retaining wall) TYPE OF BRICK BOND: ENGLISH BOND  - alternating rows of headers and stretchers  EXAMPLE 3 (Bath Parade: Car park wall) TYPE OF BRICK BOND: ENGLISH GARDEN WALL BOND (top section only) - A header is placed every third stretcher in a row to break up the monotony of the typical English Bond pattern, see example 2. This example features different coloured headers to make the pattern more visible. EXAMPLE...

Croome and Sezincote Trip Visit The start of term calls for some fresh inspiration with a trip to Croome Court, a National Trust property with extensive grounds designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown as well as a taste of India with a beautiful venue known as Sezincote. Featured below, are some quick sketches taken from the day that helped me to warm up my drawing skills before the start of the final year! (ALL MY OWN PHOTOS except the Sezincote Garden Map) SEZINCOTE HOUSE CROOME COURT SKETCHES