Not Letting Up in August.

August continued a busy summer period here at Simon’s Landscaping with plenty of local work and projects extending out to the Norfolk coast.

The Saxlingham Nethergate Five

Undoubtedly our biggest project of August was our work in Saxlingham Nethergate. This presented a unique opportunity to complete five separate projects on the same road, all within a few yards of each other. Two of the projects were primarily tarmac driveways, two were tar and chip resurfacing works, and the fifth was a striking garden renovationfeaturing bespoke porcelain patios, water features, and flower beds, along with associated gas and electrical alterations.

Tarmac Drive One

The first driveway was a straightforward project involving excavation, installation of a Type 1 sub-base, and the laying of new tarmac. We were also asked to extend the property’s traditional flint wall, sourcing flint locally and constructing the extension using lean-mix concrete.

Tarmac Drive Two

The second driveway involved drainage works and concrete edging leading towards the property’s front entrance. We spent the first day excavating trenches and installing ACO drainage channels. Cost-effective concrete edgings were then laid on lean-mix concrete to define the driveway before the tarmac installation.

Once both driveways had been fully prepared and compacted, we completed the tarmac surfacing in a single day. A silver pre-coated stone was rolled into the surface along both edges to create a decorative finish.

Tar and Chip Projects

Two further projects involved tar and chip resurfacing. We began by removing dirt, debris, and loose material from the existing surfaces. Using our in-house tanker, we then applied hot K170 tar before spreading 10mm golden pea shingle to create a durable and attractive finish. Both projects were completed with concrete edgings to provide a neat and defined appearance.

Garden Renovation

Our final Saxlingham project involved transforming an ageing garden, originallyconstructed in the 1980s, into a contemporary outdoor space. The design featured porcelain paving, a bespoke planter, and a central water feature and fitted lighting.This was a larger project than the others and required an additional week on site. The first stage involved removing an oversized metal oil tank and replacing it with a lower-profile plastic unit discreetly positioned within the hedge line. This required alterations to the pipework and routing services beneath the new sub-base. Our electrician also installed the wiring for the water feature pump and uplighting.

A strong Type 1 granite foundation was then laid to ensure long-term stability for the patio. We installed beige porcelain paving with bespoke cuts around the perimeter and water feature base. A block-built planter was constructed by our subcontractor and clad using matching porcelain slabs to create a seamless appearance. The planter was filled with Portuguese hedging supplied by one of our trusted local suppliers.

The centerpiece of the garden was a Foras Belmont Layered Slate Sphere water feature weighing approximately 150kg, complete with an integrated reservoir and lighting. To complete the project, five uplights were installed in front of the planter, bringing the garden to life during the evenings.

Near the Yard in Hethel

Hethel is right on the doorstep of our yard and always provides a great opportunity to support our local community. This project was located on a beautiful property situated on a local farm. The objective was to extend the customer’s existing patio in a complementary style that would surround a new hexagonal concrete base for a summer house. A raised step was also required, as the area sat lower than the house.

We began by excavating the site and carrying out muck-away operations before creating a timber formwork mold for the hexagonal base. Once the concrete had been poured and cured, we spent the following week laying Raj Green Indian sandstone in a curved design to suit the shape of the area.The patio was bordered with reclaimed sleepers, which were also used to construct a raised planter at the far end of the garden. Matching sandstones were used to create a step leading into the space. The project will be fully completed once the summer house has been installed by a third party.

King’s Dam Project

One of our commercial projects this month was undertaken for King’s Dam, an educational provision site that provides tailored outdoor learning opportunities within a forest-school environment.

Our brief included tar and chip surfacing of the main area, installation of a porous tarmac pathway, and tarmacking the entrance splay and road edge. We began by importing and grading road planings across the site to provide an additional base layer. The porous tarmac pathway was then installed before our tanker and chip spreader were used to surface the main area with 10mm golden pea shingle.

On the final day, we installed Type 1 granite within the entrance splay area. Concrete edgings had already been laid to extend the splay into the new parking area. The tarmac was then laid, repairs were completed to the road entrance, and the project was signed off.

The Priory

One of our final projects of the month was a large-scale tar and chip installation at a period property in Hethersett. The existing driveway had deteriorated significantly over time, and the customer wanted a traditional finish that reflected the property’s original character. Historical photographs were provided to help us recreate the appearance as closely as possible. We also needed to incorporate specific level adjustments and accessibility considerations to accommodate the customer’s mobility requirements.

Due to the scale of the project, we utilised several larger excavators to remove debris, vegetation, and unsuitable material. A substantial muck-away operation was carried out using our 8-wheel tipper fleet.

As is often the case with traditional Norfolk properties, ground conditions varied considerably across the site. Significant groundwork was therefore required to establish suitable levels and foundations. Concrete edgings were installed throughout much of theproject, creating a clean and defined finish while also allowing us to achieve the precise levels required for accessibility.

Once the groundwork was complete, we awaited the installation of new automated gates by a third party before returning to apply the tar and chip surface. The completed project has given the property a renewed sense of character while maintaining its traditional appearance.

V-Mesh and Close Board Fencing for Davidson’s

We rounded off the month with a large-scale fencing project for our friends at Davidson’s, an agricultural construction company specialising in poultry facilities and farm development.

Located at Westhall, Suffolk, the project involved two large poultry sheds requiring full perimeter security fencing. Our works included the installation of V-mesh fencing around the site, along with close-board fencing along one boundary.

The close-board fencing stood at 1.2 metres high and was constructed using concrete posts and gravel boards. The remainder of the perimeter was enclosed with 1.8-metre-high green V-mesh fencing, complete with a pedestrian access gate and a double vehicle access gate. Due to the scale of the project, the works took approximately two to three weeks to complete. These projects are always enjoyable for our team, as large-scale V-mesh installations are one of our specialities and provide an opportunity to work alongside other long-standing and reputable businesses.