Project Underway: Devon County Council – Restoring Stover Park

Morgans Consult are delighted to be working with Devon County Council to enhance wayfinding and visitor engagement at Stover Country Park, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

In 2024 Morgans Consult responded to a competitive tender for Devon County Council (DCC) and was delighted to be awarded the project. 

About Stover Country Park

Stover Country Park, owned by Devon County Council is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Local Nature Reserve. The Park contains 114 acres of woodland, lake and marsh, heathland, grassland and a substantial variety of wildlife. It is also designated as a dragonfly hotspot by the British Dragonfly Society.

The Stover Centre consists of a classroom, rangers’ office and public toilets. Additional recreation resources include interpretation boards, an aerial walkway, a bird hide, walking routes, a car park and picnic areas. 

Related: Case Study – Cosmeston Lakes Wayfinding and Interpretation

Project Objectives

The Restoring Stover Project has been made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and aims to create a better place for people, wildlife and heritage. Our brief is to deliver on three key objectives:

1. Enhance visitor experience through innovative and accessible interpretation media.
2. Respect and protect the park’s ecological and historical significance.
3. Align deliverables with DCC’s corporate parenting strategy and sustainability goals.

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Scope of Work

The brief is exciting and incorporates a range of deliverables, from wayfinding and interpretation to digital activations. The scope of work includes…

1. Design and manufacture of physical media interpretation, such as;
   1. Entrance/welcome signage to help orient visitors upon arrivalInterpretive boards that highlight key historical and environmental information in an engaging way while being sympathetic to the environmental integrity of the siteTimber wayfinding fingerposts 
   1.  Timber points of interest markers, highlighting key information and linking to an interactive site app.
2. Design and production of print materials, including
   1. Park leaflet and site map7 self-led walk leaflets covering themes like animals, history and flora
3. Digital App Development
   1. Develop an interactive app featuring:
      1. A map of 30 POIs across the sitePOI content including text and imageryOngoing app management
   1. Provide staff and volunteer training for app updates and maintenance
4. Installation and groundworks
   1. Our expert team of installers will use fixing methods sympathetic to the site’s flora, fauna, and heritage in line with Devon County Council’s ambitious sustainability targets.

Collaborative Working

Devon County Council has detailed corporate parenting and education strategies in place and this project involves various community engagement programmes, focusing on health and well-being, outdoor learning, digital initiatives and volunteering. We will working alongside a learning consultant to support the educational content creation, ensuring it aligns with the curriculum and meets the needs of teachers and students. 

We’ll be partnering once again with industry leading interpretation design agency, The Way Design, to make sure the interpretation signage communicates and connects deeply with the audience. 

Environmental Considerations

Stover Park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), meaning it is of particular interest to science due to the rare species of fauna and flora it contains. The Country Park, which covers 114 acres, consists of six main habitat types: freshwater, marshland, coniferous plantation, mixed broadleaved woodland, lowland heath and grassland. Morgans Consult will advise materials, placements and fixing methods that not only are in keeping aesthetically with the surrounding environment, but that ensure there are no negative impacts on the flora and fauna of the site.

We’ve worked on a number of SSSI sites, including Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoir, Cosmeston Lakes, and Elan Valley.

We’re currently at survey stage, and look forward to progressing with design solutions for approval by the client in the coming weeks. 

If you’d like to find out more about anything featured in this article, just reach out to us on info@morgansconsult.com / 02920 672828.