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Garden & Landscape design
Nethergate,Suffolk
The Nethergate project reimagines the brewery’s outdoor space as a welcoming rural destination for families, local visitors and the wider community.
Rather than creating a traditional playground, the design introduces a nature-led landscape where play, biodiversity and social spaces sit side by side.
Project type:
Commercial
Date: Current
Location: Suffolk, Long Melford
The Nethergate landscape project transforms a simple open field into a welcoming, nature-led destination for the local community.
Designed around families, sustainability and outdoor connection, the scheme blends natural play, native planting and relaxed social spaces to create a place where people of all ages can gather, explore and spend time outdoors together.
Overview:
Client Story
The brief for Nethergate focused on creating a family-friendly outdoor landscape that strengthens the brewery’s role as a local destination while supporting biodiversity and sustainable design.
The aim was to move beyond a traditional beer garden and instead develop a nature-led space where natural play, relaxed social seating and wildlife habitat sit together within the Suffolk setting.
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Key priorities included improving accessibility, encouraging longer visits from families and the local community
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integrating native planting and reclaimed materials, and shaping a landscape that feels informal, welcoming and rooted in place while remaining practical for long-term use and events.
Encourage Natural Play & Family Engagement
Design Response:
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Replace traditional play equipment with landforms, timber features and imaginative natural play elements.
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Support child-led exploration through mounds, tunnels, climbing logs and sensory planting.
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Ensure inclusive access with step-free routes suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs and all ages.
"“We were worried it “You can already imagine families spreading out on the grass, kids exploring the play mounds and everyone just enjoying being outside — it feels like something the whole village will be proud of.”
“We needed a space for families and to make the most of what we have.”
Design Response:
Create a Landscape That Evolves Over Time
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Establish a strong ecological structure through tree planting and meadow areas.
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Allow the garden to grow into its surroundings, becoming more established and wildlife-rich each season.
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Design spaces that support seasonal events, education and community activities.
“You naturally drift through the space — .”
What the Project Will Deliver
Design Response:
Around 85% of the raw materials already on site are incorporated back into the build, reducing waste.
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A nature-integrated playground designed around imagination, movement and connection to the outdoors.
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A family-friendly beer garden that balances relaxation with play and exploration.
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Increased biodiversity and wildlife habitat, including pollinator planting, log habitats and native tree canopy.
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A clear identity for the brewery landscape, blending rural character with contemporary design thinking.
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A sustainable outdoor environment that supports wellbeing, encourages return visits and strengthens ties to the local community.
“It certainly feels like more than just a beer garden — it’s somewhere families will be able to spend a whole afternoon. You can already picture kids running across the mounds while everyone else settles in and enjoys the space.”
Sustainability
Design Response:
Embed Sustainability into Everyday Experience
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Use reclaimed and locally sourced materials wherever possible.
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Introduce mature native trees, hedgerows and wildflower areas to create instant habitat and long-term biodiversity value.
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Integrate rainwater harvesting, permeable surfaces and low-maintenance planting strategies.
"This project moves beyond creating a single feature or play area. Instead, it builds a living landscape where people, wildlife and business activity coexist — a place that feels rooted in Suffolk from day one while continuing to evolve alongside the brewery and its community."
Before
Design Detail:
This project was about using the land:
Nethergate Brewery’s new community landscape reimagines the traditional beer garden as a nature-led outdoor space for families, local visitors and wildlife.
Designed in Suffolk and rooted in sustainable landscape principles, the project combines natural play, native planting and relaxed social areas to create a welcoming destination that encourages longer visits, supports biodiversity and strengthens the brewery’s connection to the local community.
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