Nubuds landscape consultancy delivers nature restoration through holistic planning and design.
Nubuds helps community groups, local authorities and landowners restore and enhance natural environments.
Informed by survey and analysis, we identify features to be protected, features to be restored, and opportunities to increase biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
We create spatial layouts that respond to the natural processes of each unique landscape, in combination with the needs of its inhabitants.
We develop and refine layout options in response to consultation with our clients, community groups and other consultees.
Our detailed designs ensure we are nurturing, restoring and rewilding every part of every landscape with sensitivity and care.
Our phasing and management plans embed climate resilience to ensure successful establishment and an adaptiveness from which self-sustaining landscapes can evolve.
Jo Phillips
Jo is a landscape architect with 30 years’ experience working on a wide range of environmental projects.
Qualified in landscape architecture, urban design, climate change management and practical rewilding, Jo has the knowledge and skills that a holistic approach to landscape planning and design requires. With experience in strategic land-use planning, landscape design, urban regeneration and environmental impact assessments, Jo’s current work focuses on nature restoration and rewilding projects with the aim to boost biodiversity, reduce climate impacts and embed climate resilience. Jo recognises the huge potential that large-scale land-use planning and nature-based design presents in respect of averting the worst of the climate and nature crises, and the importance of protecting, enhancing and creating natural habitats for future generations.
Jo is a creative thinker with the ability to generate smart solutions to complex problems. She is also an effective communicator with excellent writing and presentation skills. Jo realises the importance of inclusivity in design and promotes collaborative approaches to working with landowners, communities and consultees.
Services
Landscape and Re-wilding Plans
The creation of plans that capture the vision, develop the detail and bring life back to landscapes.
Jo specialises in producing landscape and rewilding plans that respond to the unique qualities and characteristics of each site, as well as the unique aspirations of each landowner or community group. The approach starts with a review of existing
land-uses, and an exploration of changes that would enhance biodiversity, increase carbon stocks, embed climate resilience and enhance landscape character. The plans present baseline surveys, analysis of opportunities and constraints, exploration of options and ideas, detailed design of the preferred option, and phased planning for its implementation and management. The design process is carried out in close collaboration with landowners and community groups, to ensure the evolving plans accurately reflect local aspirations.
Community Projects
Assisting communities in nurturing, restoring and rewilding landscapes at every level and at every stage.
Jo helps communities develop their own projects, as well as represent them in respect of projects in their local area. Facilitating community projects involves helping groups set out a vision, develop ideas, organise participation in site survey and analysis, establish priorities and create options, apply for funding where available, and identify ongoing management and adaptation requirements. Jo also has experience organising and facilitating community consultation events – a requirement for landowners or local authorities on a range of projects. This involves setting out objectives, preparing consultation materials and managing events.
Biodiversity and Carbon Metrics
Using metrics to increase the biodiversity and carbon uplift of a site.
As part of any project, metrics to measure biodiversity and carbon can be applied. At the outset, the baseline value of carbon stored in soils and vegetation can be calculated alongside the baseline value of biodiversity associated with specific habitats. Proposals for the site can then be tested out in terms of the predicted uplift in carbon and biodiversity that they will deliver and these calculations can be used to shape the design and optimise the sustainability of the project.
Expert Witness
Providing expert witness services at planning appeals with a specialist focus on landscape and visual impact assessment.
The service includes a review of project documents, site visits, development of case, production of pre-inquiry documents and presentation of evidence at inquiry. Jo’s experience includes acting as expert witness at examination for several Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects in England, and more recently at public hearings on behalf of Scottish Borders Council. Jo’s specialism is large scale renewable energy developments with a growing interest in AI Data Centres.
Photography
Offering landscape photography for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments.
Jo is an accomplished photographer having undertaken verifiable viewpoint photography for over thirty large-scale renewable energy projects across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. In addition to formal LVIA photography, Jo also undertakes landscape and site-specific photography for projects and promotions.