FPCR

Few people have shaped our relationship with the natural world more profoundly than Sir David Attenborough.

For decades, his work has helped people see the beauty, complexity and fragility of the environments around us - and why protecting them matters.

As he celebrates his 100th birthday, we’re reflecting on the lasting influence his voice and advocacy continue to have across environmental professions, including our own. Many of our colleagues at FPCR have also been personally inspired by his work - from childhood fascination with the natural world through to careers dedicated to understanding, protecting and designing with nature.

Matt Loak, Director (Ecology) at FPCR, recalls meeting Sir David at the British Naturalists’ Association National Conference at Forest School, Epping, in 2006 or 2007:

“They say you should never meet your heroes, but he did not disappoint. We were lucky enough to spend an afternoon tea sitting on the lawn with him, and he was a charming and incredibly knowledgeable individual - genuinely interested in your perspective on the natural world and highly encouraging.”

Happy birthday, Sir David Attenborough. 💚

Environment

An exciting discovery from our recent survey!

Our team discovered 50 brown hairstreak (Thecla betulae) eggs across four hedgerows—an important find for this vulnerable species. With populations declining due to hedgerow removal and annual flailing.

By implementing tailored habitat management, we’re helping ensure a future for this rare butterfly and the wider ecosystem. Protecting biodiversity starts with small discoveries like these!

FPCR once again took part in the St Modwen Land Aid 10k. Great fun for everyone and proud to be the team that raised the most sponsorship, over £2000 towards helping youth homelessness. Some great individual times and everyone enjoyed the wonderful food and drink afterwards.

FPCR attended the Botanical University Challenge Careers at Queens College Oxford University. Two of our botanists James Warren and Paul Sharpe ran the FPCR careers stall, engaging with the enthusiastic botanical students about their current work and all the exciting opportunities we can provide to them.

Since 2016 the Botanical University Challenge has grown into the amazing competition we saw this year, showcasing incredible botanical knowledge from all the student teams which took part. It was a pleasure to attend the careers fair and networking event in Oxford Botanic Garden to discuss with students their next career steps, and we look forward to seeing some of you in our industry in the future.

If you didn’t manage to get around to seeing us at the fair, please contact us for opportunities at [email protected]

Final thanks to Botanical University Challenge and Oxford University for hosting and congratulations to the Cambridge team on their victory in this years competition.

Big shoutout to our Sheffield colleagues who volunteered to do a street litter pick near our offices at Aizlewood’s Mill. 🌿✨ Well done to everyone for making our local area a cleaner place to be.

At FPCR, we're thrilled to share the implementation of one of our latest on-site projects in Buckinghamshire.

This winter planting season, we had the pleasure of collaborating with a dedicated landowner to implement thousands of new trees. We're eager to witness its growth and maturation in the years ahead.

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Learn more: www.fpcr.co.uk

We are thrilled that proposals for Cobdens, the eastern expansion of Cranbrook new town, have gained planning consent!

The mixed use scheme includes 1,435 new homes, a new 630 space primary school, a special educational needs school, local centre, allotments, place of worship, cemetery, and 6 play areas, set within an extensive Green Infrastructure network and SANGs (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace) provision.

See our website for more information on the Cranbrook scheme:
https://www.fpcr.co.uk/projects/cranbrook-new-community-devon/

FPCR provided masterplanning, landscape, ecology and arboricultural services on behalf of Persimmon Homes.

FPCR have been involved in the development of Cranbrook from the outset, with this new neighbourhood forming a major milestone in the development of the town.

It’s not often you get to use a £6000 hammer!

Our Arboriculture teams from Derby and York met for some decay detection CPD using PiCUS Sonic Tomography at our Lockington Hall main office. The team surveyed several mature trees in the Hall grounds and were able to compare data from previous surveys to determine decay column progression. The large stem diameters and fluted stems provided some useful hands-on practice and problem solving.

PiCUS is a method for determining the extent of decay in trees using the speed of sound waves between an array of sensors placed around the stem to understand the ratio between decay affected wood and residual/sound wood. The healthier the wood, the faster sound travels. This data can then be converted into a ‘sonic tomogram’; a 2D or 3D colour coded plan showing the extent of decay recorded across the plane of the sensors.

We have in house expertise in the use of PiCUS, interpreting the results, and recommending management solutions based on our findings. We enjoy regular CPD events at FPCR so we can keep our team’s technical skills up to date and in line with industry developments.

On Wednesday our Associate Director of Arboriculture, Helen Kirk and one of our Principal Arbs, Naomi Charman, attended the networking event Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. This included a wonderful talk by Dr. Stefania Gasperini on morphophysiology and the ethical approach to veteran trees, and an inspiring afternoon tree walk with Cecily Withall from the Kew Arboriculture Team. They even tracked down a Wollemi pine! Great opportunity to network with colleagues, gain insight on international approaches to veteran tree management, and apply this learning on veteran trees to the advice we give our clients.

A new area of public parkland is nearing completion on a parcel of land between New Lubbesthorpe and Thorpe Astley. The paths are just waiting a top dressing, woodland and shrub planting is almost complete and cultivation for meadow seeding is well underway. Our multi-disciplinary team have been involved from the outset from concept and planning through implementation.

The parkland includes a range of features and spaces that were developed as part of a consultation process with the Town Council and local community. These include a community orchard and securely fenced dog exercise area. A sinuous arrangements of paths now gently climb a mounded landform, with breaks in tree planting framing new elevated views back to Leicester city skyline.

A new multi-user tarmac path provides a direct link between existing parkland and established communities at Thorpe Astley with the growing community and parkland areas of New Lubbesthorpe. The park should be complete mid-Spring and we look forward to seeing it green-up and spring into life.