HCUK Group

James Meek, HCUK Group's Archaeology Director, is lucky enough to be able to relax and unwind at the weekend by walking some of the beautiful west Wales coastline. Here is a view of the Neolithic chambered tomb called Coetan Arthur (c. 4,400 BC - c.2,900 BC) on St David’s Head in Pembrokeshire. Small pods of porpoises can sometimes be seen from the cliffs nearby. 

We are pleased to announce that Juliette Wilson has joined us as an associate director in our heritage team. Juliette was formerly with Newark and Sherwood District Council.

There is an archaeological and historical sequence here. The enamelled sign was attached to the telegraph pole, exhorting people not to throw stones “at the telegraphs”. More specifically this was a plea not to throw stones at the ceramic insulators separating the wires from the poles. This pole was then cut down and reused as a gate post - perhaps near its original position, perhaps not. We have dating evidence from the sign that it was made in the reign of King George VI (1936-1952). So we can be reasonably sure the telegraph pole dates from before 1952 and we can infer that its use as a gate post was, strictly, after 1936 - though it was probably several decades after that, in practice.

Here we see HCUK Group's visualisations manager Keith Healing battling the elements in the South West a few days ago, working on one of our renewables schemes.

Where heritage, ecology, and planning converge - on site in historic Islington instigating a preliminary ecological appraisal as part of our comprehensive planning assessment. Balancing conservation requirements with sustainable development opportunities in London's cherished urban spaces with Walkerbushe Architects Ltd. Sophie Barrell Olamide Adenugba

Trees like Gingkos are often used as street trees in UK and Europe. They sometimes retain their leaves longer than most deciduous trees. Back-lit by a winter sun gives a magical golden effect. This example (Gingko biloba) was snapped by Stuart Hocking in Porto, Portugal.

This amazing tree stem carving of a castle in the air was spotted by Stuart Hocking in woodland near the Rococo Gardens at Painswick, Stroud. What's not to like? Stem failure in the past has allowed the creation of a wonderful aesthetic treat for visitors of the human and local wildlife kind.

Our Planning Director Mel Mantell (née Wykes) enjoyed the thoroughly entertaining 'Planners have Talent' event on Wednesday hosted by Town Legal LLP. The event was in aid of XLP, an excellent charity who support young people facing tough challenges.

Last week Emma Cooper, our Archaeology Manager, attended Last Friday Club in Sheffield. February’s event was sponsored by HLM Architects and as always it was a great event to catch up with old contacts and meet new ones.  

This “Devil’s Toenail” was recently found by one of HCUK Group’s archaeology team James Danter on a site visit in Bedfordshire. It’s actually a fossil bivalve (think of oysters, molluscs – Gryphaeidae) that lived in shallow seas over an enormous span from 250mya to 23mya. So it’s not human archaeology in the sense that James was looking for, and it isn’t a diabolical toenail, but it is a whopper. For the geologists out there it was found half way up a hill in an area classified as mudstone.