Garden Surveying Masterclass

Surveying a garden is about measuring existing detail and transferring the measurements to paper in the form of scale plans. This can be outsourced to a topographical surveyor but, with study and practice, can be carried out by a competent gardener.

Unless a designer or contractor has accurate measurements to work from, any designs or construction drawings produced will not relate to the real position. This has the potential to form inaccurate designs, planting plans, veg plot layouts, garden structure positions and quotes for the client, which can increase costs for both the client and the contractor.

The survey plan is a to-scale, bird’s eye view of the garden or part of the garden enabling the design or costing process to be carried out accurately. Very few gardens are the simple shapes they may appear, fence lines may be straight but corners are unlikely to be 90 degrees and the house may not be parallel to the boundaries, existing ponds and borders are likely to be curved and how do you pinpoint the exact location of that ancient Yew with a TPO on it?. Using surveying techniques (chain surveying), principles created by the ancient Egyptians, involving geometry, triangulation and offsets, this Masterclass will give you the tools to accurately plot garden features on scale drawings.

The Master Class objectives are to:

• Obtain and calculate field measurements.
• Prepare legible field notes.
• Recognise and be able to use basic survey terminology, instruments and equipment.
• Draw up a scale plan from obtained data.

The Masterclass will be a good basis for those interested in taking the RHS Level 2 certificate, Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance or Level 3 Certificate, Principles of Garden Planning, Construction and Planting.
Following on from this Master Class there will be a class in optical level surveying

The Masterclass will be led by Laurie Eggenton (email: l.eggenton@gmail.com), PGG member, Horticultural lecturer and a member of the Institue of Horticulture.

Delegates will be required to supply some of their own equipment, this would be necessary if further surveys are to be carried out.

Equipment list:

• Scale rule
• Metric rule
• Set square
• 30m tape measure
• Compasses (Preferably a beam compass having the ability to draw a wide arc)
• Pens Pencils and rubber ( we all make mistakes)
• Note book
• Wet weather gear and inside and outside footwear

Venue and times

The class will run from 10am to 4pm on the 23rd of January 2014 at the Wilshere Hall, St Andrews Church, Cappell lane, Stanstead Abbotts Herts SG128BX. Spaces are limited to 10 delegates but more classes will take place in other locations throughout the year.

This is a first come first served event, if you are not lucky enough to get a place then your payment will be returned along with details of any future classes. Confirmation of a place and detailed directions will be emailed to successful applicants.

Payment

The cost of the Masterclass is £60.00 per person and will include tea, coffee and lunch, please inform us of any dietary request.

L Eggenton Ltd reserves the right to cancel and give a full refund at any time.