LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
THE LANDSCAPE OF EAST ANGLIA
Few regions can rival East Anglia for the quiet majesty of its timeless, found in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire & parts of Essex.
The landscape of East Anglia is characterised by gently rolling countryside, extensive lowlands, unique coastal habitats
& a mosaic of natural and semi-natural vegetation.
Its landscapes reflects a combination of geological history, climate, and centuries of human land use, from arable farming to woodland management.
The Fens are vast, low-lying wetlands, historically dominated by reed beds, sedges, and wet grassland species.
Native plants such as reed (Phragmites australis), marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) & meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) characterise wetter areas.
Drainage has created productive farmland, but remnants of wet woodland with alder (Alnus glutinosa), willow (Salix spp.) & wet scrub
persist along ditches & river corridors, providing habitat for invertebrates, amphibians & wading birds.
Sandy soils and dry conditions support the Breckland heathlands, where open heath, gorse, and scrub dominate.
Characteristic species include gorse (Ulex europaeus), ling heather (Calluna vulgaris), bell heather (Erica cinerea) & scattered Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris).
Scrub & heath create structurally diverse habitats, supporting rare invertebrates, ground-nesting birds like the nightjar & small mammals.
Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) & bramble (Rubus fruticosus) form dense patches, contributing to visual texture & sensory stimulation.
The inland low rolling hills are often under arable cultivation, interspersed with hedgerows, small copses & field margins.
Native scrub species such as hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) & elder (Sambucus nigra) punctuate hedgerows, providing food & shelter for birds & insects.
Chalk grasslands, though fragmented, support rich wildflower clusters including salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor), dropwort (Filipendula vulgaris) & purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea).
These species contribute to seasonal colour & biodiversity.
Meandering rivers such as the Cam, Great Ouse, and Waveney create riparian corridors with wetter soils, floodplain meadows & wet woodland.
Alder, willow, reed & marsh bedstraw dominate, with scrub edges formed by hawthorn, blackthorn & bramble.
These areas provide crucial habitat connectivity, supporting waterfowl, amphibians & pollinators.
East Anglia’s coastline includes sandy beaches, dunes, estuaries & saltmarshes.
Dune systems support marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) & sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), while saltmarshes are rich in halophytes such as glasswort (Salicornia spp.). Scrub patches along dunes provide shelter for birds & small mammals & the interface of open water & vegetation supports high ecological diversity.
Though much of East Anglia is open farmland, a network of ancient woodlands, small copses & tree-lined hedgerows punctuates the landscape.
Key species include oak (Quercus robur), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), hazel (Corylus avellana) & field maple (Acer campestre),
with a supporting understory scrub of hawthorn, blackthorn & bramble.
These linear and patch habitats provide visual interest & more importantly wildlife corridors which ensure ecological resilience.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​As human populations multiply, the pressure on the natural environment & resources increases too.
Climate & seasonal changes not only affect the ability of farmers to produce, but also has a profound affect on wildlife, the creatures that often do not have a voice.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The landscape also stores much of the history, culture & essence of this ancient land.
This is evident in castles, abbeys, pavilions, forts, fences, pillboxes & towers among others​​
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Consideration of factors related to the natural & built environment are recognised as crucial when finding ways for places & spaces to be designed & developed for human use.
We seek to contribute to the landscape character of these places & spaces
with a researched & experiential understanding that informs design decisions in positive ways.