Topographical Survey of The Valley Garden, Cotehele House

The National Trust instructed us to carry out a topographical survey of the Valley Garden at Cotehele House, near Calstock in Cornwall. The site, spread out over a 230m x 130m area, posed a number of challenges including steep gradients, heavy vegetation and tree cover together with an exacting specification. The use of GPS equipment was precluded due to the tree cover and vegetation, so a closed loop traverse was installed before undertaking the detail survey. The survey was carried out over a number of days and picked up all the footpaths, boundary walls and fences together with trees, larger shrubs and vegetation. The survey was drawn up as a 3d CAD plan with ground model, contours, spot heights and site features. A draft plan was issued and then, after input from the Trust gardeners, Latin names for all the shrubs and trees were added to the final drawing.