JBA Dublin based environmental team has recently completed the Landscape Design and AA Screening for a high quality residential development in Blessington Co. Wicklow.

The aim of the landscape design was to assimilate the residential development into the mature landscape setting which includes mature beech trees. The landscape design comprises three areas of open space, planting to the residential frontages and site boundary treatment.

The three areas of open space include;

• an active recreational space to the east of the site entrance to allow for children’s informal kickaround on a flat grass surface; 
• a passive ‘quiet-zone’ is located at the western side of the site entrance.  It is not over looked and includes a walking route and a south facing seating area with shade pergola structure; and 
• a further active recreational area amongst the existing mature beech trees which includes pieces of timber retained during the removal of trees identified in the Arborist report and is set within a bark mulch surface. The timber play area maintains the tree root protection zones of the existing trees and is surrounded by wild flower mix and mown lawn.

The entrance to the site will be enhanced with low formal lavender hedging either side of the curved feature walls. Planting within open space will use beech hedging where possible to retain the existing mature woodland character of the area. Small white flowering street trees will be used in the frontages using species such as Bird cherry, Callery pear and Juneberry trees, all of which are recommended in the All Ireland Pollinator Plan list of species by National Diversity Data Centre. Shrubs in front of houses combine a mix of low growing groundcover panting with flowering bushes, hedges between frontages are low growing and evergreen. Within the open space wild flower meadows are proposed which include spring bulb planting for early spring colour. Climbing plants are proposed against wall and fences within the open space area to add fragrance and interest. 

The project was submitted for planning in June 2019.

If you would like more information on this, or similar projects, please contact Bernadette O'Connell - Bernadette.oconnell@jbaconsulting.ie