Building of the Landscape has started
By: Steve Ruddy & Richard Wilford - 30/03/2011
Steve and Richard, alongside Alan the 'rockman', begin the build by plotting out the layout of the Landscape.
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On Monday 28 March, building of the Australia Landscape commenced.
We have stripped the turf from the west forecourt and will use this thin layer of turf to build height into the planting beds and develop the landforms describing our Australia landscape in Bloomsbury!
Turf stripping on the forecourt lawn (Image: RBG Kew)
Next on the list is to translate our three dimensional computer model onto the ground. Armed with measuring tapes, spray paint, dimensions, radii and projections we begin to draw out our design. Starting in the Western Australia section (not quite the weather in Perth yet!) we quickly sketch out the positions of our modelled rock as Alan Bishop is keen to get modelling.
Kew and Landform team marking out the design (Image: RBG Kew)
Alan is our ‘rockman’, adept in creating natures geological wonders with simple ingredients steel mesh, fibre glass and a lot of skill. This time his task is to faithfully represent the Inselburg granite outcrops I witnessed in January – no mean feat!
Following some initial moving around and discussion, its final placing is ratified and Alan and team begin to fashion the steel framework to which the model rock cake mix will be applied.
Making the steel framework for the granite rock (Image: RBG Kew)
Richard and I then concentrate on the rest of the shapes the team have marked out, carefully adjusting the lines until we are completely satisfied; lots of standing back and seemingly staring at the floor!
Keep checking back here to find out more from the Landscape as it happens...
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About Steve, Tony and Richard
Steve Ruddy is Manager of the Garden Development Unit, and is responsible for concept design, planning and delivery of a diverse range of projects, services and activities at Kew.
Tony Hall is responsible for Kew’s Arboretum, managing the globally important plant collections and heritage landscape. Expert in all aspects of plant growth and care, Tony manages the Arboretum Nursery ensuring the collections are safe guarded for the future. You can find out more about his work by following the Arboretum team blog.
Richard Wilford is the Collections Manager in the Hardy Display Section at Kew. His responsibilities include both nursery collections and collections on public display such as the Alpine plants, Grass Garden, Woodland and Rock Garden, and Order Beds at Kew. Richard also frequently contributes to the Alpine and Rock Garden team blog.
- If you would like to publish material from this blog in a separate publication, please get in touch with Kew’s Press Office at pr@kew.org. See our full Terms & Conditions here.
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1 comment on 'Building of the Landscape has started'
Lee-Ann Welsh says
03/04/2011 10:22:28 AM | Report abuse
I am Australian