The special character of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty extends over 100km from outer SE London through the ‘Garden of England’ to the English Channel, covering 6 Landscape Character Types, 13 Landscape Character Areas and 32 Local Character Areas. UP worked with Fiona Fyfe Associates to update the AONB’s Landscape Design Handbook, blending key aims and principles with detailed design recommendations to promote good landscape-sensitive design, land use, and management.

The handbook introduces practical measures to promote biodiversity and ecological connectivity and considers changing landscape factors such as rural diversification. Together with detailed recommendations for planting (woodland, trees, hedgerows, grasslands and wetlands) and construction (materials, colours, boundaries and surfacing) the handbook supports people to protect, enhance and make positive decisions in the interests of a nationally significant landscape.

With Fiona Fyfe Associates for Kent Downs. Images by UP.