23 Jan BALI Principal Award Winner!
Urban Forestry (Bury St Edmunds) collected their latest award at a prominent industry ceremony in Park Lane, London on Friday 1 December 2023. The exceptional landscaping work resulted in Urban Forestry being named and awarded the 2023 Principal Award Winner. The British Association of Landscape Industries’ landscaping awards is the largest of its kind in Europe, providing a spectacular celebratory ceremony showcasing the finest examples of landscaping excellence in the UK and overseas.
The Principal Contractor Award focused on the transformational work to a recreational ground in Botesdale, Suffolk. Urban Forestry brought a vision to life by regenerating a once neglected area, now recognised as a beautiful space for the whole community.
James Blake Associates designed the scheme for Botesdale Parish Council to make a positive and long-lasting impact on the local community. Working with this design Urban Forestry have created a multi-use space that includes a range of features and facilities for all ages. The recreation ground now offers wide appeal, including play and exploration features, alongside health, fitness and well-being equipment for all ages and abilities from young children to seniors.
BALI Chief Executive, Wayne Grills, comments: “This fantastic achievement is testament to a very good scheme which has transformed an underused facility that attracted undesirable youths to a space fit for all age groups and families. Good project management and communication throughout the process of delivery between Urban Forestry, James Blake Associates and the client stakeholders resulted in the outcome everyone wanted to see. A strong scheme well-executed. Congratulations.”
Ian Choules, Director of award-winning Urban Forestry, adds: “As a director I am very proud of the team and the work completed at Botesdale. We were impressed with the design from James Blake which our team of landscapers implemented. Special recognition goes to Ady, Sim and Les for leading this project, and all the team at Urban Forestry for this fantastic achievement.”
James Blake, Chairman of multi-award-winning chartered UK landscape architect firm, says: “We are delighted for Urban Forestry to receive this award for a scheme we created and had an integral role in delivering to the client. There are so many rewarding elements to successfully completing a community project and it is part of our ongoing mission to design and deliver greener, more sustainable schemes across the UK. It is always a real pleasure to work with councils nationwide to help make a difference to local communities and conservation alike.”
Adrian Rampley, Contracts Manager for Urban Forestry, says: “Having worked alongside James Blake Associates for over 25 years on a large range of projects, we always know their landscape designs offer great variety and detail. We aim to ensure every project we undertake is handled with a high level of organisation, diplomacy and an ongoing positive attitude. This latest award-winning scheme in Botesdale exemplifies how the level of communication and cooperation provided between ourselves and James Blake Associates creates a finished scheme we can all have great pride in.”
