Lear Associates Limited
8 East Street
Oxford
OX2 0AU
Tel: 01865 725046
Mob: 07711 668382
Email: office@learassociates.co.uk
VAT Reg No: 468 4735 05
Registered in England Company No: 4650400
Oxford Office
(Oxford Tel: 01865 725046)
We coordinate our project programmes from Oxford, where we have a special interest in the long-term planning, planting, and upkeep of college gardens. Our design work includes the President’s Garden at St John’s College where we are also involved in the restoration of the ‘theatrical borders’ based on 18th century illustrations.
Our project work extends far beyond Oxford, with major schemes developed for private estates in Wiltshire and Dumfries; arboretum masterplans for Markshall in Essex; conservation management planning for the National Trust at Bodnant Gardens, North Wales; and delivery of National Heritage Lottery funded projects including works at Chiswick House and Fulham Palace, London.
Our project portfolio also includes several Grade I registered parks and gardens, notably Wrest Park, Westonbirt National Arboretum, Stourhead, and Biddulph Grange; and consultative work for the Dean and Chapter of Salisbury Cathedral on the landscapes famously painted by John Constable and JMW Turner. We have also provided masterplanning services for urban centres including Coed Darcy in South Wales, and urban heritage studies for the City of Bath World Heritage Site.
Michael Lear is a member of the ICOMOS UK Cultural Landscapes and Historic Gardens Committee.
Northern Ireland Office
(Downpatrick, Co. Down. Tel: 02844 851828)
Our flagship project in Northern Ireland is the ‘PeaceMaze’ – conceived by Beverley Lear as a cross-community landscape project celebrating the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Based on almost 4000 design submissions from school children across the province, the maze was created in partnership with the Northern Ireland Forest Service at Castlewellan Forest Park using 6000 yew trees. Community engagement throughout the design, development, and planting phases has ensured that the ‘PeaceMaze’ continues to receive more than 100,000 visitors annually and is an international destination.
Our work in Northern Ireland focuses mainly on heritage landscapes and conservation of the natural environment, including work commissioned by Newry Mourne & Down District Council. Current projects include the restoration of the Edwardian period planting scheme at Warrenpoint Municipal Park, and Castlewellan historic demesne where we have worked with staff and volunteers to define and secure funding for a major restoration project.
Other projects serviced from our Downpatrick office included Rhododendron surveys at Rowallane and Mount Stewart for the National Trust; interpretation materials for the People’s Park, Ballymena; investment and redevelopment planning at Mount Congreve (Co. Wexford); and the restoration of Woodstock Gardens, for Kilkenny County Council.
Michael Lear is a committee member of the Northern Ireland Heritage Gardens Trust.