Heritage Landscapes
At Atkins we understand that our heritage lies not just in our historic buildings and archaeological remains, but also in our wider landscape, including our natural environment and ecology.
Our integrated approach to the management of cultural and natural heritage brings together specialists with world-wide experience across the disciplines of:
- archaeology
- ecology
- landscape and conservation architecture
- urban design
- interpretation
- planning
- economics and tourism.
We work to international (UNESCO) standards, frequently in areas of international heritage significance. Our current and recent projects include the preparation of World Heritage Site management plans and integrated conservation plans for Sites of Special Scientific Interest, the restoration of historic parks, public realm schemes for historic urban environments and celebrations of contemporary landscapes.
We carry out detailed assessment and evaluation, to provide the basis for policies and proposals for future management of individual sites or large complex areas. Our policies feed into wider development plans, local tourism, landscape and environmental strategies. They respect local, national and international frameworks. We focus both on the intrinsic requirements of the heritage resource, as well as on the potential public benefits offered by our cultural and ecological heritage.
Atkins is particularly focussed on the importance of historic and ecological heritage to local communities, and in the possibilities of heritage in education, as well as in wider tourism strategies.
Our ability to understand and to adopt local approaches to heritage, and to work closely with local experts, is fundamental to the success of our UK and international work. Local knowledge and the adoption of national and local standards and approaches is vital. Our specialists have wide experience of international working and liaison with local and national government and independent conservation bodies.
Some of our current and recent projects related to historic landscapes, involving staff from a wide range of disciplines and led by our heritage and landscape teams include:
- management plans and interpretation strategies for World Heritage Sites, ranging from the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland to Westminster in London, Liverpool and Bahla Fort in Oman
- the restoration of historic parks and gardens such as Egerton Park in Bexhill, Painshill in Cobham, Eltham Palace in London and Warley Woods in Sandwell
- an interpretation strategy for the historic environment in Wales
- Images of Change: A Field Guide to the 20th Century Landscape about to be published by English Heritage - the project grew out of our Change & Creation project which sought to understand the social transformations reflected in the landscape of the last half-century
- conservation plans, for instance for Ingrebourne Marshes, London - an integrated cultural heritage, ecological and landscape management plan for the site of an historic military airfield and nationally important marshland
- a photographic project recording the M1 widening scheme which aims to engage art and archaeology in producing a visual characterisation of the landscape, its past, present and future
- the development of a new national botanic park on the Arabian peninsula – the National Botanic Reserve in Oman