Landscaping
An historically landscaped rural setting
Chesterford Research Park is approximately 3 miles north of Saffron Walden, in a rural setting, close to the village of Little Chesterford. The Park was laid out in the 18th/19th century "English Landscape style" in the mid 19th century around a Victorian country house, and stands within some 250 acres. The Mansion is the centrepiece of the Park with its adjacent inner park and arboretum, with a number of mature parkland trees.
There are three principal areas to the park:-
- The Outer Park, which comprises of farmland, woodland and plantations.
- The Inner Park, located close to the Mansion, with its pond and arboretum.
- The Golf Course - seven hole, par 3 - which is currently being re-invigorated, for sole use of the Park tenants.
Landscape architects have undertaken an analysis of the landscape and a strategy has been prepared for the maintenance and improvement of the park. An integrated approach has been proposed to ensure that both landscape and architecture proposals respond sensitively to the historic parkland setting. Planting has already commenced in order to provide screening to proposed new buildings and existing internal roads. Informal pedestrian and cycle routes are also proposed.
The character of the surrounding landscape is one of gently rolling fields defined by hedgerows, agricultural post and wire fences and small woodland blocks. The site is in an elevated position but it is well screened from longer distance views by areas of ancient woodland and tree belts along the site boundaries.