“The fully restored Maiwand Lion, a memorial to those who died in the Afghan campaign, looks magnificent. All the other set pieces demonstrate high quality craft skills throughout. Another triumph for the Heritage Lottery Fund, for Reading Borough Council and for English Landscapes in handling a contract of such diverse elements and making sure they all meet such a high standard. Reading should be proud”.
BALI Adjudicator

BALI Principal Award Winner 2005 - Mainly Hard Landscaping

English Landscapes was delighted to be appointed as Principal Contractor undertaking the restoration package at Forbury Gardens. The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Forbury Gardens is registered Grade II in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

Works undertaken included:

Restoration of the Abbey Ruins (Grade I listed) - re-landscaping, improved electrics and specialist conservation works to the stonework of the ruins themselves
Replacement of the original fountain
Renovation of the Bandstand
Conservation of the cast iron Maiwand Lion (Grade II listed)
Construction of a New Keeper's Lodge in a mixture of traditional and modern materials
Restoration of the brickwork and the knapped flintwork around the site, especially to the main perimeter walls (Grade II listed)
Restoration and replacement of railings to the perimeter walls
Re-surfacing of all pathways site-wide
Planting of beech hedging and turfing
Planting to restore the gardens to their original Victorian design
Planting of a fernery and the installation of a tropical plant bed
Provision of soakaways using a stormwater infiltration system
Major highway works