Lathams to create ‘imaginative and sustainable vision’ for Idle Valley

April 19, 2011 - PRLog -- Derby-based architectural and landscape design practice Lathams has been appointed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to develop proposals for new visitor facilities at Idle Valley Nature Reserve near Retford.

At 450 hectares, Idle Valley’s mosaic of wetlands and associated habitats makes it one of the largest and most important centres for wildlife conservation in the East Midlands.

Lathams managing director Chris Twomey explained: “This is an outstanding site of great regional significance, and we are proud to have been entrusted with the task of integrating it more effectively with the surrounding environment at the same time as making it more accessible to visitors.

“Lathams has a long track-record of creating outstanding and sympathetic facilities in the most sensitive of rural locations, and we will be drawing on all of that experience to ensure we deliver imaginative and sustainable development while fully safeguarding the unique and distinctive character of the Idle Valley landscape.”

Lathams is working with Lincoln-based planning and development consultants Globe on an initial feasibility study and masterplan for a new visitor hub, as well as a new rural products centre.

Rob Fitzsimons, development manager for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, explained that the development of the designs and feasibility for the new facilities were being funded by Bassetlaw District Council, and were intended to complement a Heritage Lottery funded development of the nature reserve itself and the education facilities of the Idle Valley Rural Learning Centre which are owned and operated by North Notts College.

He added: “There is a clear need for a focal point for visitors to Idle Valley, both to help them enjoy the site but also to understand the underlying conservation principles at work here.

“We also want to integrate the site more effectively with its surrounding rural environment. The new rural products centre will be an important part of that, promoting the use of sustainable techniques in woodland management, and selling products made by ourselves and local crafts men and women.”


ENDS

Notes to editors
1.   Lathams is an architectural and urban design practice with a reputation for creating outstanding environments that has been earned through our work on hundreds of successful and award-winning projects across three decades. We specialise in the regeneration and creative renewal of buildings, land and communities, making change happen by supporting our clients from feasibility, funding and planning stages through to the delivery of imaginative, distinctive and, above all, successful projects.

We achieve these results by being multi-disciplinary in the truest sense – offering expertise in architecture, urban design, conservation and landscape design, and then bringing these skills together in the way most appropriate for each individual project.

2.    More information about the Idle Valley Nature Reserve can be found on Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s website http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org

Further Information
For additional media enquiries, contact Marc Sanderson, Head of Marketing, at Lathams:
email m.sanderson@lathamarchitects.co.uk or tel: 07879 600803