Avalon Marshes Visitor Centre, Somerset

Landsmith Associates was commissioned by Orme Architecture/Kier and Natural England to develop a comprehensive landscape masterplan for the Avalon Marshes Visitor Centre, situated within the ecologically vital Shapwick Nature Reserve in Glastonbury, Somerset. This project, recognised as a finalist for the CIRIA 'Habitat Creation Project of the Year' 2023, aimed to regenerate the visitor centre's surroundings, transforming a previously hard-surfaced and flood-prone car park into a verdant and inviting landscape that seamlessly integrates with the surrounding lowland peat and wetlands – a designated SSSI and Ramsar Site. Our involvement spanned the entirety of RIBA Work Stages 1 to 7, from initial planning and detailed design to construction oversight and liaison with both the client and contractors.

Our design approach for the Avalon Marshes Visitor Centre deeply rooted in reflecting the distinctive local landscape character and enhancing the identity of the nature reserve. Proposals included creating a new welcoming entrance and arrival area, an informal play space featuring a re-formed dipping pond, and significant greening of the car park to mitigate localised flooding, a crucial consideration given the high water table. The plan also sensitively integrated existing historic buildings, a Viking boat, a new education building, and a covered café seating area, all while meticulously selecting materials and plant species to complement the delicate ecological context and local flora and fauna.

The project unfolded in phases, with Phase 1 concluding in May 2019, involving groundwork by Kier Contractors and planting supervised by Landsmith with Artisan Landscape. Phase 2, which commenced in June 2023, introduced a new cafe, bioretention ponds, extensive wetlands restoration, tree planting, native wildflower meadows, and permeable paving. This phase, completed by Elmtree Landscape Contractors, achieved a remarkable 90% overall biodiversity net gain, highlighting the profound positive ecological impact of the design. The transformed Avalon Marshes Visitor Centre now stands as a testament to successful ecological regeneration and collaborative design.