CASE STUDY
St Joseph Homes, Wallingford
Highcroft is a stunning, high-quality development based within south Oxfordshire in the quintessentially English market town of Wallingford. With the advent of Covid-19, 2020 became the year of the walker, highlighting the need for, and importance of, more attractive and accessible outdoor areas. This impressive project features open green spaces and nature trails, along with statement landscaping, providing safe access and recreation for walkers and cyclists alike.
Location
Wallingford, South Oxfordshire
Client
Highcroft St Edward
Sector
services
Soft landscaping implementation, entrance feature planting, tree and shrub planting, boundary hedging, open space planting
Design Priorities and Planting Scheme
Highcroft is a stunning, high-quality development set within the market town of Wallingford, where open green spaces and nature trails play a key role in everyday life. The need for accessible and attractive outdoor areas was central to the design, with a strong focus on biodiversity and ensuring the development blended naturally into its surroundings.
Each area has been creatively designed with a mix of planting to suit its setting. Borders surrounding the lawns and ponds were planted with a mixture of harmonising plants, including Hebe pinguifolia ‘Sutherlandii’ and Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’. Ilex ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ trees were introduced to provide privacy for houses closer to the road, while also adding height and structure to the landscape.
To create a more welcoming and homely feel, Photinia × fraseri ‘Red Robin’ and Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ were used along walkways. These soften the surrounding brickwork and bring colour and interest throughout the year, helping the homes sit comfortably within the wider landscape.
A Natural Setting Designed for Everyday Use
Each element was selected to balance visual appeal with practical use, supporting both the character of the development and the needs of residents. The combination of planting, open space and pathways creates a landscape that is easy to move through, while still offering interest and variation across the site.
The result is an idyllic and carefully designed landscape that adds real value to the development. Open green spaces provide room for people to meet, walk and exercise, while the entrance creates a strong first impression with a wide gateway, trees and shrubs, and tranquil ponds on either side. Over time, as the planting matures, the setting will continue to strengthen and provide a lasting connection to the surrounding environment.
