SHERFORD SCOOPS NATIONAL LANDSCAPING AWARD

Sherford has added another award to its collection, after being named a winner at the National Landscape Awards. The win recognises the work in Sherford’s public green spaces, undertaken by YGS Landscapes, the Plymouth-based contractor that has cared for Sherford’s great outdoors since work first began on site, in maintaining them to the highest standard.

Run by the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), the National Landscape Awards are among the most closely watched in the sector, with every entry visited and scrutinised by a judging panel before winners are agreed. This year’s awards mark BALI’s 50th anniversary.

Announcing the result, BALI’s judges praised the closeness of the working relationship between the landscaper and the Sherford Consortium – a partnership between award-winning national housebuilders Taylor Wimpey and Vistry, which includes Countryside Homes, Linden Homes and Bovis Homes.* It is recognition not just for the standard of landscaping and maintenance, but for how Sherford’s green spaces are managed so that they flourish over time, and the outstanding care shown to the site by those who work on it.

 Caring for a growing town

The landscapers have taken on new parks, streets and green spaces as each phase of Sherford has come forward. Its work today spans Sherford Country Park, seven urban parks, sports pitches and playing fields, ponds and lakes, hundreds of street trees, verges and hedges, and the wildlife corridors and bat bridge that lets wildlife move safely across the site.

Its care reaches into some of Sherford's best-loved spaces too. Wildflower planting surrounds the multi-use games area, sports pitches, skate park and children’s play area. In the Country Park, the team looks after woodland copses, wildflower areas, paths, trees and pond.

Two community forests have been planted with more than 26,000 native woodland whips, alongside a dedicated skylark habitat field, orchards, a nuttery, wildflower meadow, tussock grassland and more. The Country Park itself is still growing towards its eventual 500-acre size, so the landscaping role will only keep expanding over time.

A landmark wall and a well-travelled tree

Among the features in YGS Landscapes’ care is the 380-metre long living wall welcoming visitors to Sherford along the main entrance to the town. Measuring 10m high, this green wall is one of the biggest in Europe and was created as part of the new town’s commitment to sustainability and contributes to the green infrastructure of the city, encouraging greater biodiversity for Plymouth. Sherford’s living wall was a previous BALI award winner in its own right.

Just as distinctive is the tulip tree on Libra Avenue, believed to be the largest of its kind in the South West. Native to Plymouth, Massachusetts, the three-tonne tree had been nurtured for more than 35 years before being lifted into place by crane in July 2020 to mark the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s voyage.

Care beyond the day job

Caring for Sherford’s spaces extends beyond routine upkeep. Green waste from the site is composted rather than sent to landfill, and plants and hedgerows cleared from development areas are relocated into new public spaces rather than discarded. YGS Landscapes trains its own apprentices on site and works closely with the Friends of Sherford Country Park volunteer group.

Steve Fowler, Project Director for the Sherford Consortium, said: “Central to our vision for the town has always been making sure homes are never far from accessible outdoor space. This award reflects the exceptional standards maintained since the very start of the development, enhancing biodiversity and promoting wellbeing right across our parks and green spaces. Our work with YGS Landscapes is a genuine partnership, and this national recognition is thoroughly deserved.”

Steve Warren-Brown, founder of YGS Landscapes, said: “Sherford has been part of our story since its beginning, and watching it grow into the landscape it is today has been one of the proudest jobs we've taken on. This award belongs to the whole team, from the people out on site every week to the apprentices coming through, and it's a reminder that the best landscaping isn't just about what you plant, it's about the long-term vision and creating a legacy.”

Tom James, Director at YGS Landscapes, added: “We’re incredibly proud to have received national recognition from BALI for our maintenance work at Sherford. The award is a great reflection of the collaborative approach behind the project, working closely with our client and wider stakeholders including the Council, Sherford Community Land Trust, Friends of Sherford Country Park, and fellow subcontractors. Maintaining a large, publicly accessible landscape to such a high standard is a genuine team effort, and it’s fantastic to see that collective commitment, care and pride in Sherford recognised at a national level.”