Landscape Journal - Winter 2017 by Landscape, the journal of the Landscape Institute

THE JOURNAL OF THE LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE WINTER 2017

landscapeinstitute.org

Celebrating success #LIawards2017

DESIGN TANK PHOTO JÃ&#x161;LIA MARTINS MIRANDA

Times Square New York City

Enjoying the outdoors since 1947 vestre.co.uk 2

Vestre Stoop Design: Julien De Smedt Vestre April Go Design: Espen Voll, Tore Borgersen & Michael Olofsson

A really impressive array of submissions, demonstrating the influence of the profession on the landscape of our cities and our country.

Merrick Denton-Thompson Landscape Institute President Find out more on page 7

CONTENTS

5 Editorial Celebrating our people Daniel Cook

6–50 61 Landscape Institute Awards 2017

Mapping our Greenspace

Discover 2017’s prestigious LI Awards, as successful, original, thought provoking and insightful projects and research receive their prizes from the Institute’s judges

Details of a powerful new resource for professionals and public, created through an innovative partnership with Ordnance Survey

69 My many Manchesters

Outdoor space helps children, including those with autism. Davies White show how in their triple RHS award winning garden

A very personal tour of an ever-changing city; understanding the texture of its urban fabric

THE JOURNAL OF THE LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE

Touching the imagination

WINTER 2017

landscapeinstitute.org

Celebrating success #LIawards2017

Cover image Bridget Joyce Square: Community Rainpark, White City, London © Robert Bray Associates / London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

74 On my Mind The future of heritage Jenifer White

EDITORIAL

Publisher Darkhorse Design Ltd T (0)20 7323 1931 darkhorsedesign.co.uk tim@darkhorsedesign.co.uk Editor landscape@darkhorsedesign.co.uk Editorial advisory panel Eleanor Trenfield, honorary editor CMLI David Buck AMLI Amanda McDermott CMLI Peter Sheard CMLI John Stuart Murray FLI Jo Watkins PPLI Jenifer White CMLI

Celebrating our people

Landscape Institute President Merrick Denton-Thompson Landscape Institute CEO Daniel Cook To comment on any aspect of Landscape Institute communications please contact: Amina.waters@landscapeinstitute.org Landscapeinstitute.org @talklandscape landscapeinstitute landscapeinstituteUK Subscription and membership enquiries: www.landscapeinstitute.org/contact The Landscape Institute is the chartered body for the landscape profession. It is an educational charity working to promote the art and science of landscape practice. The LI’s aim, through the work of its members, is to protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built environment for the public benefit. The Landscape Institute provides a professional home for all landscape practitioners including landscape scientists, landscape planners, landscape architects, landscape managers and urban designers. To advertise in Landscape, contact Anthony Cave, Cabell: 0203 603 7934

Landscape is printed on FSC paper obtained from a sustainable and well managed source, using environmentally friendly vegetable oil based ink. The views expressed in this journal are those of the contributors and advertisers and not necessarily those of the Landscape Institute, Darkhorse or the Editorial Advisory Panel. While every effort has been made to check the accuracy and validity of the information given in this publication, neither the Institute nor the Publisher accept any responsibility for the subsequent use of this information, for any errors or omissions that it may contain, or for any misunderstandings arising from it.

A year in as your CEO, it’s been non-stop. I am writing this from the IFLA World Congress and World Design Summit in Montreal with landscape and design professionals from around the world. From Claude Cormier, Hal Moggridge, Kathryn Moore, Dirk Sijmons and emerging talent among landscape students spanning the globe, I have been inspired by many I have spoken with and listened to this week. Whether it be climate change, urbanisation, ageing of our population or social inclusion – the skills we all put to work to benefit people, place and nature are needed now more than ever. With this edition celebrating the success of the landscape professions, I wanted to share with you the things we can be proud of: – Our role as facilitators – Our understanding of communities and culture – Our critical thinking and pragmatism to help solve major challenges – Our genuine care for society and our environment When you look through this awards edition, you will see many of these attributes at work. Importantly, this year we have also introduced awards to celebrate the people in the profession such as our many volunteers and also emerging talent among our newest members of the profession. Going forward, we intend to build on this further to see how landscape professionals can further benefit people, nature and place. We do have our challenges. Can we be bolder?

Can we better communicate the value we bring to society? How do we attract the next generation to choose landscape as their career? Expect more from the LI on health, well-being and the value of landscape interventions. Talent is also a critical issue with us getting ready to launch initiatives to engage future generations as well as your institute doing more to help equip you for the changing nature of work. Next year we are also going to have a major push on professional skills – presentation, leadership, ethics and more. With the pace of change accelerating in the world around us, there is only one guarantee to be given – we can’t afford to stand still. Professions will need to adapt, our organisations will need to be more agile and increasingly digital to remain relevant and deal with an ever more complex world. After five years at the helm our editor, Ruth Slavid has recently departed. The Editorial Advisory Panel and the LI Board join me in extending our thanks to Ruth, who has built the quality of our journal over this period. At the time of going to press, we are interviewing for our next editor. Get ready for the next stage of our journey together! Dan Daniel Cook Landscape Institute CEO PS: you might notice a change today. We have given our publishers, Darkhorse Design the opportunity to refresh the design for this special edition. Let us know what you think!

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Landscape Institute Awards 2017 WINNERS

Adding Value through Landscape

Communications and Presentation

Design for a Medium Scale Development

Design for a Small Scale Development

Design for a Temporary Landscape

Heritage & Conservation

Landscape Policy and Research

Local Landscape Planning

Science, Management and Stewardship TEP

Fellows’ Award for Creating Healthy Places JOHN SHEAFF AND ASSOCIATES

ARUP 28

Client of the Year CLINTON DEVON ESTATES

LUC 26

New Landscape Professional of the Year BARRY CRAIG

HTA DESIGN LLP 24

Volunteers of the Year DAN WALKER, LILY BAKRATSA, ROBERT HOLDEN

B|D LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS 22

Urban Design and Masterplanning ARUP

ROBERT MYERS ASSOCIATES 19

Student Portfolio JOELLE DARBY

HARRISONSTEVENS 16

Student Dissertation LORETTA BOSENCE

ERZ 14

Strategic Landscape Planning OPTIMISED ENVIRONMENTS LTD (OPEN)

ROBERT BRAY ASSOCIATES LTD

President’s Award ROBERT BRAY ASSOCIATES LTD

A W A R D S 2 0 17 By Merrick Denton-Thompson

President’s introduction

The outstanding service the landscape profession provides to the whole of society was on display again this year at the Landscape Institute’s Awards judging event. There was a really impressive array of submissions, demonstrating the influence of the profession on the landscape of our cities and our country. It was inspiring to view the achievements and appreciate the diversity and the high quality of talents in our profession. This year showed exemplary examples of the profession at its very best, working in disciplines which ranged from large urban master planning

and strategic planning to heritage and conservation. The range of projects, from small and medium to large scale developments, showed some brilliant detailed design and presentation ideas. An impressive range of practices submitted projects and ideas, including entries from landscape students, large multi-disciplinary practices and small sole practitioners. This year we have inaugurated an award for New Landscape Professional of the Year, together with an award for Volunteer of the Year. Looking at the work of volunteers – and of the award submissions in general – has made me

aware of the dedication of so many in the landscape profession. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the judges who took time away from their busy schedules to take part in identifying the winners and the highly commended schemes. To all those who put in submissions, investing time and money, and standing up to be counted – I admire you all. Thanks also to the awards committee for all it does to make this event so successful and to our staff colleagues for all the effort and thought they put in to make the whole event run like clockwork.

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ADDING VALUE THROUGH LANDSCAPE

WINNER

Bridget Joyce Square: Community Rainpark, White City, London LANDSCAPE PRACTICE AND SuDS DESIGNERS: ROBERT BRAY ASSOCIATES LTD

CLIENT: LONDON BOROUGH OF HAMMERSMITH AND FULHAM

An excellent demonstration of ‘small is beautiful’. The fact that it is community led is a major attraction of the project.

The residents wanted to improve safety for children at the entrance to the local school and needed a space for community events while the local council wanted to demonstrate a green infrastructure approach to flood mitigation. The new scheme restricts traffic in front of the school, improving the school entrance, linking it to adjacent playgrounds and remodelling the existing road and parking to create a new urban park with an integrated SuDS scheme. Sunken landscape areas to store rainwater are contained within low walls and a ‘Wiggly Wall’, a popular opportunity for children’s

play, snakes through the grasses and trees. The project has responded directly to the needs of the community and has been a catalyst for social cohesion in a deprived part of London. Hydraulic and civil engineers: McCloy Consulting Engineers Ltd  Project managers: Project Centre  Main contractor: FM Conway Ltd  Landscape contractor: Dolwin & Gray

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Sunderland Seafront, Sunderland

North Street Regeneration, Brighton

Port Sunlight River Park, Wirral, Merseyside

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: SUNDERLAND CITY COUNCIL LANDSCAPE DESIGN SERVICES

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: URBAN MOVEMENT

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: GILLESPIES LLP

CLIENT: SUNDERLAND CITY COUNCIL

CLIENT: ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND

CLIENT: THE LAND TRUST

Engineer: Sunderland City Council Project manager: Sunderland City Council Landscape contractor: Trevor Atkinson & Co Ltd, Eurovia  Bespoke metalwork: Chris Brammall Ltd Roker Pod design: Art Gene Play area: Creative Ginger Stone supplies CED

Although the historic resorts of Seaburn and Roker have magnificent beaches, poor access and crumbling public areas had contributed to their decline. This regeneration scheme focused on making a series of seafront promenades to enhance the visitor’s experience of the coast. The use of naturalistic curvilinear forms, herbaceous and colourful planting in combination with natural hard landscape materials, quirky street furniture and LED feature lighting has had a transformative effect.

As a busy central shopping street and bus route, North Street was congested, cluttered and polluted. The first step towards improvement was to move the bus stops further apart, allowing the carriageway to be narrowed. This provided room for wider footways incorporating new tree planting, seating and cycle parking. The street is now less dominated by traffic and gives opportunities to pause and enjoy the city. Contractor: RJ Dance Authority: Brighton & Hove City Council

We were impressed by the clearcivic leadership and the hard evidence of added value to local businesses, residents, visitors and the wider city of Sunderland.

Even on a limited budget, urban streets can be transformed by a range of small and thoughtful interventions.

A former landfill site has been transformed into a 30-hectare community park and wildlife haven. It has established a new public waterfront to the Mersey, linked by traffic-free nature trails, footpaths and cycle tracks to local neighbourhoods. A large earth mound of soil-capped landfill has been planted and incorporates circular trails from which there are extensive views of the Mersey. The paths are laid to allow movement and permanent features have been placed outside the settlement area. Client: The Land Trust Lead Designer and Landscape Architect: Gillespies LLP Local Authority: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Funding Source: BIS, Forestry Commision, Woodland Trust, Newlands Civil, Structural and M&E Engineer: WSP Landowner: Unilever Landowner and funding contributor: Biffa Landowner: United Utilities Pipeline Owner: Essar

This shows a bigger vision for the area beyond turning wasteland into park land. It restores the community’s connection to the city and to the mighty Mersey.

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COMMUNICATIONS & PRESENTATION

WINNER

erz ten

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: erz

They bridged the gap between a traditional medium and a coherent social media strategy.

erz wanted to create something unique and characterful that would celebrate its achievements in the ten years since it was founded and promote its work. The team developed a unique brand and logo – erz ten – and used their archive of drawings, images and photography to design a set of high quality limited-edition postcards. Twenty different postcards, with images ranging from small community-led spaces to multi-million pound hospitals, were selected and sorted into packs of ten, each pack personalised to suit the interests and profession of the recipient. They were sent to a range of contacts including students,

architects, councillors and politicians. The team designed an information/ thank you card, a bespoke ‘belly band’ with which to collate the postcard packs, and a bespoke envelope. To maximise impact, the team included a social media strategy, using Twitter, LinkedIn and emails. By targeting different audiences with differently themed postcards, the company made a direct connection to clients, spreading information about their practice to more than 300 people.

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HIGHLY COMMENDED

52 Big Ideas for Bristol

Fira – 40 years of Place-making – Anniversary Book

A Fresh Approach to School Landscapes

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: STRIDE TREGLOWN

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: FIRA

Landscape architects and their multidisciplinary colleagues at Stride Treglown have worked together to develop a book of ideas which aims to transform the city of Bristol and to inspire the inhabitants to consider their surroundings in the context of sustainability. The book promotes the core objectives of the Landscape Institute such as health and wellbeing, sustain ability and placemaking, and makes them more approachable to the general public.

Graphic design: Soda Copywriter: Target

A tactile pocket book is the perfect choice of medium for its target audience.

Extremely professional and beautifully presented celebration of forty years of prestigious projects.

In 2016 Fira decided to mark the fortieth anniversary of the practice with a review of their work and a reflection on the profession of landscape architecture during that period. The result is a book, ’40 years of Placemaking’ which presents the work of the practice, its origins and evolution, how it adapted to change and what challenges it might face in the future. The book has been distributed to new and existing clients, improving their perception of Fira’s professionalism and creativity. It has also become a useful promotional tool for students of landscape architecture. The practice has also under taken a comprehensive rebranding, with new website, brochures and business cards.

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, PROPERTY SERVICES LANDSCAPE GROUP

Published in 2016, ‘A Fresh Approach to School Landscapes’ is a book aimed at inspiring schools to make the best use of their school grounds. The concept and vision draw heavily on the work of Hampshire County Council’s landscape strategy team who have worked collaboratively with hundreds of schools over 25 years. The Landscape Group worked closely with the national charity ‘Learning though Landscapes’ to write and edit the book. Landscape Architects: Hampshire County Council, Property Services Publication Creative Design: Hampshire County Council, Property Services Play and learning outside the classroom working group: HCC Departmental officers & Learning Through Landscapes Trust

Excellent example of identifying a problem and producing a well-designed, practical guide to tackle it, with the potential to be rolled out nationally.

Foundations for the City of Culture 2017 gave Hull a once in a generation opportunity to transform the City Centre and its public realm. The newly-regenerated public realm flows through the city starting from the Paragon Interchange down through some of the most important areas of the city, finishing in the historic marina area. The Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s social and commercial territory has given Hull the greatest makeover seen in many years and made it a place that can compete with other cities around the United Kingdom. Hardscape supplied 20,000m2 of Magma granite which was chosen as the predominant material, both for its durability and colour variation. The warm tones compliment the predominantly brick architecture but also bring together other architectural materials such as cropped and flamed Black Basalt setts. It provided flexibility in terms of unit sizes, allowing for greater design freedom to adjust to the many different scenarios that were gauged. Five hundred linear metres of granite kerbs and accessory details were also used together with 15,000m2 of Kellen Lavaro paving and 2000m2 of Hardscapeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prima Porphyry from Italy. There were several major Artscape features also including lettering around the central water feature; a stainless-steel strip within the paving where the old castle walls once stood at Beverley Gate and also braille tactile paving along the main pedestrian areas to spell out the poem, The City Speaks, by Hull-based poet Shane Rhodes.

Client Team: Hull City Council, Re-form Landscape Architects, Eurovia UK Contractors and Arup Engineers.

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DESIGN FOR A MEDIUM SCALE DEVELOPMENT

WINNER

Holyrood North, Edinburgh, Scotland LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: HARRISONSTEVENS

CLIENT: UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

Extremely well embedded in local context. Thoughtful design with high quality detailing.

A new collegiate quarter of 900 student residences for the University of Edinburgh has been slotted into redundant land in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Matching the tight grain and steeply stepped characteristics of the medieval townscape, the designers have produced a distinctive tapestry of public spaces between the new buildings. These include narrow vennels, closes, sheltered courtyards and a new public park with lawns, planting and seating, replacing a former car park. A new café has become a popular hub for academic and permanent residents to interact. Natural light, an important element in such a dense urban environment, has been used to enhance the spaces,

while repeated glimpses to familiar Edinburgh landmarks give context and orientation. A palette of natural materials – stone cubes, slabs and setts – surface the new pedestrian routes and are combined with timber and weathered steel balustrades and seating. A passive irrigation system allows hard surface water run-off to be captured in artificial aquifers and reused by adjacent planting. The scheme has created a new place for everyone in the city, reflecting its historic surroundings while skilfully stitching in the edge from historic to contemporary. Consultant team: HarrisonStevens, Oberlanders, JM Architects, Blyth and Blyth, RSP and Gleeds. Main contractor: Balfour Beatty

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Lesnes to Crossness, Thamesmead, London LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: UNTITLED PRACTICE

The project is the first phase of a masterplan for environmental improvements to a three kilometre walking/cycling route between Lesnes Abbey and Crossness Pumping Station and celebrates Thamesmead’s unique diversity. The path network has been improved, rain garden and wet swale features have been incorporated and meadows converted to provide a habitat for biodiversity. The 3D ground modelling is a significant feature of the project, using the existing topography to great effect. The project demonstrates how green design can support community well-being through placemaking. Funder: Greater London Authority Stakeholder: London Borough of Bexley Civil and SUDS Engineer: Civic Engineers Lighting Designer: Studio Dekka Ecologist: Complete Ecology Graphic Designer: Studio April Quantity Surveyor and CDMC: Frankham Consultancy Group Contractor: Blakedown Landscapes (SE)

CLIENT: PEABODY

We were impressed with the level and detail of community and stakeholder engagement.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Msheireb Museums, Msheireb Mosque Doha, Qatar LANDSCAPE PRACTICE AND ARCHITECTS: JOHN MCASLAN + PARTNERS CLIENT: MSHEIREB PROPERTIES

As part of a project to revive the historic heart of the city of Doha, the Msheireb Mosque and the Msheireb Museums, consisting of four historic houses, have been restored and extended. Their traditional courtyards have been transformed into linked external museum spaces. The designs fuse traditional Qatari heritage with contemporary architectural language and sustainable modern technology.

The simplicity and quality of detailing and execution stood out.

Project Manager: Time Qatar Executive Architect: Arab Engineering Bureau Quantity Surveyor: Davis Langdon Structural and Civil Engineering: Buro Happold Museum Planner: Barker Langham Exhibition Design: Ralph Appelbaum Associates Contractor: Arabian Construction Co (Acc) - Qatar

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DESIGN FOR A SMALL SCALE DEVELOPMENT

WINNER

The Magic Garden, Hampton Court Palace LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: ROBERT MYERS ASSOCIATES

CLIENT: HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES

Beautiful, fantastical response to a site that offers both physical and symbolic/narrative stimuli. It has a strong sense of identity that would be a pleasure to experience by people of all ages.

The Magic Garden, created on the site of King Henry VII’s former Tiltyard, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, was created to attract young visitors and their families and to encourage them to explore and use their imagination. The new garden is a contemporary space underpinned by a strong structure upon which have been layered a series of character areas including The Mount, Tiltyard Towers and the Mythical Beasts’ Lair. A journey through the garden provides challenges, obstacles and illusions that play with the notions of hierarchy, status and scale. Different levels, slopes, undulating paths, enclosure, scale and perspective all help to maximise the potential for play and create atmosphere

and surprise. Visitors encounter the unexpected, the fantastical and a tension between formal and wild, and between historical legacy and mythical legend. Since the garden has been completed visitor numbers have risen by 34 per cent. Civil and structural engineer: Michael Barclay Partnership Services engineer: Chapman BDSP Play consultants: Snug & Outdoor Lighting Design: Speirs + Major Planning consultants: CgMs Landscape contractor: Frosts Landscapes Planting: Hampton Court Palace Royal Team

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Walled Garden & entrance way, The Museum in the Park, Stroud

Sacred Heart Cathedral of Kericho, Kenya

Friends House, Euston Road, London

CLIENT: DIOCESE OF KERICHO, KENYA

Formerly derelict, the Walled Garden at The Museum in the Park has been restored and its new pavilion building is now accessed by a new entrance way. The aim was to create a contemporary garden and a space in which to explore museum artefacts and host community events. The new garden is contemporary in feel yet domestic in scale. Volunteer groups worked alongside the contractor to build the garden, working from a ‘how-to’ handbook produced by the landscape architect. The Museum now has an external education and and entertainment space which is fully accessible and free to visit throughout the year.

Structural Engineer: Richard Jackson Engineering Consultants Quantity Surveyor: Broadhursts Ltd. Main Contractor: DJP Construction Phillex Electrical Solutions Ltd. Paul Deakin Furniture Ltd Energy Consultants: Greenguage. CDM Co-ordinator: C&G Safety & Environmental.

A truly English space, with a sense of community, to create a genuinely beautiful garden that has a contemporary design in a historic setting.

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: JOHN MCASLAN + PARTNERS CLIENT: FRIENDS HOUSE (LONDON) HOSPITALITY LTD.

CLIENT: STROUD DISTRICT COUNCIL

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: AUSTIN DESIGN WORKS

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: JOHN MCASLAN + PARTNERS

The new cathedral is an important social hub to a large rural community. In such a predominantly hot and wet climate, the cathedral has been designed to integrate with the landscape, with large openings along both transepts to provide ventilation and to allow the congregation to leave from multiple points and mingle in the terraces and gardens outside. Rainfall is stored below ground for irrigation. The project was built with simple local materials and local labour with the aim of improving local skills. Structural & Civil Engineering: Matrix Main Contractor: Esteel Construction Ltd. (Kenya) Architects: John McAslan + Parners Engineers: Arup Executive Architect: Intershelter Sullivan Architects Stakeholders: Kericho Council / NGO Community Neighbours Schools Quantity Surveyor: Barker and Barton Mep Services: Varsitech Environmental Services: (NEMA) Pema Consulting

Reflecting the culture and ethos of its Quaker owners, this ‘pocket park’ is open to all and acts as a refuge from the adjacent Euston Road. Formerly suffering from disrepair and poorly integrated facilities, the space has been transformed and replanted. It is now fully accessible, with a range of community and private spaces including a terrace which directly connects to the café in the adjacent Friends House. Structural & Civil Engineering: Alan Baxter Main Contractor: Westco Partnership Limited Lighting Consultants: Isometrix

An excellent, clear and reined response to a small and very challenging innerLondon site, with planting that offers relief from the pollution.

A visually simple solution that looks effortless, which is often difficult to achieve.

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DESIGN FOR A TEMPORARY LANDSCAPE

WINNER

King’s Cross Pond Club LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: B|D LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

CLIENT: KING’S CROSS CENTRAL LTD PARTNERSHIP

This scheme set an innovative precedent for how public swimming pools could be conceived and delivered.

Set in the heart of Cubitt Park in King’s Cross, the bathing pond was part of a public art project within the development site, encouraging swimmers and visitors to participate in the pond as a piece of experimental art and to reconsider their relationship with nature in an urban environment. It was the first natural public swimming pool in the UK, and had space for more than 100 bathers. The 40 x 10 metre pond was entirely free from chemicals; water was purified through a natural closed-loop process using wetland and submerged plants to filter the water and keep it clean. While it was open, the pool received over 10,000 visitors and attracted huge media attention, with more than 160 written articles.

Authors: Ooze Architects Main contractor: Carillion Construction Services Ltd Structural Engineers: ARUP Utilities Engineers: Hoare Lea and Peter Brett Associates Curators: Michael Pinsky and Stephanie Delcroix Construction + Engineering Partners: BIOTOP Specialist Contractor: Kingcombe Aquacare Ltd  Landscape Subcontractor: Willerby Landscapes Ltd Gardner Consultants: Rita Breker-Kremer & Steffi Strauß  Artist: Marjetica Potrč

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HIGHLY COMMENDED

The Milkshake Tree

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: B|D LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

CLIENT: THE LONDON CENTRE FOR CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

Materiality and concept have been blended perfectly to create a compelling landscape.

This innovative installation and sensory garden, initially conceived for the 2016 London Festival of Architecture and to raise money for The London Centre of Cerebral Palsy, was designed to stimulate perceptions, with a variety of materials, sounds, smells, movement and reflections. The ramped walkway was enclosed by a timber screen which could be used as a giant xylophone for children or adults to play. It led to a series of reflective screens enclosing a ‘mysterious’ inner space. Installed in Peninsular Square, it was accessible to a wide audience and attracted huge numbers of passers-by.

Architect: pH+  Main contractor: City Sq. Solutions Tree supplier: Deepdale Trees Play equipment: Timberplay Artificial Grass: Perfectly Green

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HERITAGE & CONSERVATION

WINNER

The Water Gardens, Hemel Hempstead LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: HTA DESIGN LLP

CLIENT: DACORUM BOROUGH COUNCIL

We were excited to see post-1945 landscape design in this category. The project is exemplar and ground breaking.

Fifty years ago, Geoffrey Jellicoe designed The Water Gardens as part of the Hemel Hempstead New Town masterplan, canalising the River Gade as a water feature. Over the years the listed Grade II gardens had fallen into disrepair and were in danger of being lost. The solution balanced the competing needs of the built and natural environments, enhancing diversity without compromising Jellicoe’s design. The river was desilted and fish passes were introduced, with biodiverse planting along the water’s edge. The original planting by Susan Jellicoe, an important example of mid-twentieth

century design, was thoroughly researched and restored. A new building provides facilities for a gardener, apprentices, students and the active Friends group. A new playground has a space for refreshments to attract a wider range of visitors. Main contractor: Ian Sayer & Co Architecture, Wayfinding and Interpretation: HTA Design LLP Cost Consultants and Contract Administrators: Ian Sayer & Co. Heritage: Marylla Hunt Engineers: Peter Brett Associates LLP Play designers: Erect Architecture

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Hednesford War Memorial – Restoration Project

Saint Peter’s Church, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland

Wharton Park restoration, Durham City, County Durham

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: CANNOCK CHASE COUNCIL

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: SUNDERLAND CITY COUNCIL, LANDSCAPE DESIGN SERVICES

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE AND LEAD CONSULTANT: SOUTHERN GREEN LTD

CLIENT: CANNOCK CHASE COUNCIL

CLIENT: SUNDERLAND CITY COUNCIL

CLIENT: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

Founded in AD 674, Saint Peter’s Church was once a centre of early English culture and learning. It stands on a grassy plateau beneath which lie the remains of the original medieval monastery. The aim of the project was to represent these remains on the surface in a way which would be informative to users and visitors, to enhance and help to interpret the status of the church and the history of the site, and to improve access to the church. A series of low sandstone walls have been built to indicate the position of the ancient monastery walls, with paving representing the interiors. New footpaths, ramps and steps lead to the church and the site is flanked by new planting and a community garden. The church and its parishioners, Historic England, archaeologists and schoolchildren were all involved in the project. Main contractor: BCE Northern Ltd

Interesting research and good example about resources for war memorial designs being recognised and restored.

Architect: Mosedale Gillatt Cost Consultant: Faithful+Gould Civil & Structural Engineer: BDN M&E Engineer: Sine Consulting Main contractor: ESH Construction Landscape Historian: Fiona Green Project Manager: Durham County Council

Historic metalwork: Barr & Grosvenor Stonemason: A Walkers & Sons Funding: Heritage Lottery Fund Partners: St Modwen, Hednesford War Memorial Preservation Society, The Friends of Hednesford Park Contractor: Horticon Ltd

This much-loved park, featuring a magnificent amphitheatre, was laid out in the 1850s and overlooks Durham castle and cathedral. By 2010 it was suffering from subsidence and was on the brink of closure. With the support of the local community, the park has been restored, its layout has been redesigned to improve access and circulation, and a new Heritage Centre with toilets and cafe has been built. The amphitheatre now hosts theatrical and musical events and visitor numbers have doubled.

Standing on a hill above the town, Hednesford War Memorial is set in extensive grounds and approached by a sloping, stepped drive. Over the years the trees planted around it had grown to such an extent that views of the memorial had become lost. Rather than removing all the trees, two specific view lines have been created through them. The original gravel surface of the drive has been replaced and a disabled access path, which winds up alongside the drive, has been re-planted. The memorial itself has been carefully restored. Much of the restoration and subsequent maintenance has been carried out by local volunteers, schools and groups.

Sensitive and good quality interpretation of heritage landscape.

This site celebrates an iconic historic feature and archaeology and includes some nice interpretation features.

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LANDSCAPE POLICY & RESEARCH

WINNER

New Agricultural Landscapes: 44 years of change

LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: LUC CLIENT: NATURAL ENGLAND

The judges awarded this study for the understanding and aspirations it promotes in society of managing landscape change to achieve quality environments.

The New Agricultural Landscapes (NAL) programme, probably the longest running landscape project of its kind, documents changes in the countryside with particular focus, updated on a cyclical basis, of the effects of land management policies and practices. LUC was commissioned by Natural England to update the project, coinciding with the latest 11-year cycle in 2016. The teams used panoramic photography of a selection of original NAL viewpoints to record an overview of key changes, with observations on landscape character and forces for change recorded in the field. Three new Agricultural Landscape Types – Upland, Upland Fringe and South East

Mixed (Wooded) – were added to establish a new baseline of survey information within these additional NAL study areas.   The report sets out clear survey protocols to allow future NAL studies to be consistent and directly comparable. The programme gives a unique insight into the long term visual effects of changes in farming methods and agricultural policies.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

London Borough of Barnet Corporate Natural Capital Account LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: JON SHEAFF AND ASSOCIATES

Natural capital refers to the stock of natural assets such as parks and gardens, which provide benefits to people, like recreation and its health and wellbeing benefits. The Corporate Natural Capital Account (CNCA) is a framework which captures the financial value of these assets and quantifies the costs of sustaining these benefits over time. The London Borough of Barnet is the first to produce a CNCA for 200 of its parks and open spaces. Through desk study and fieldwork, the team assessed the quality of Barnet’s green space and its value in relation to a range of positive economic, social and environmental benefits. The resulting account shows the enormous value of these open spaces for the wellbeing of residents of Barnet. The total value of benefits from them is estimated at more than £1 billion over the next 25 years.

Jon Sheaff and Associates

CLIENT: LONDON BOROUGH OF BARNET

The costs of maintaining these open spaces are estimated at £72 million over the same period – less than a tenth of the benefits they provide.

A key demonstration project and very useful tool for practitioners.

Environmental economist: eftec Landscape consultant: Peter Neal Consulting

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Growing Awareness: Research and Learning from the CSGN Forum LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK TRUST (CSGNT)

The Central Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT) was established to improve the quality of the environment for the benefit of local people, landscape and nature. Since 2011 it has held an annual conference in Scotland to investigate ‘greening’ in its widest sense, and to promote an exchange of views and practice on ‘green infrastructure’ between institutions, local authorities, agencies and practitioners. A new book ‘Growing Awareness – how green consciousness can change perceptions and places’ is a review and analysis of the conference, with essays by fifteen speakers.

CLIENT: CSGNT

Principal Forum sponsor: Scottish Government Research contributors: CSGNT, Glasgow Urban Laboratory at The Glasgow School of Art and the individual authors Publisher: Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland Publication Funder: GreenBlue Urban Ltd

The broad-based approach of this project is extremely valuable and the long term view – looking to 2050 – is applauded.

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LOCAL LANDSCAPE PLANNING

WINNER Ulsoor Lake, Bangalore, India: A Vision and implementation strategy LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: ARUP

CLIENT: PRESTIGE ESTATES PROJECTS LTD

The judges appreciated the thought that has been given to future and ongoing consultation, audience engagement and development.

Set within a densely populated and diverse catchment in Bangalore, India’s IT capital, Ulsoor Lake had been built in the 17th Century to provide a potable water supply to the city but had become heavily polluted. The initial brief was to enhance the public realm around the 60 hectare lake, but Arup pushed the client’s ambition to widen the scope to provide lasting sustainable change to the environment and communities of the entire 18km2 catchment area. The lake had no wastewater infrastructure and the local community lacked engagement. The new plan describes the options, solutions and essential delivery partners. The solutions create a new public heart for Ulsoor, with  a series of parks, terraces and amenities

circling the lake which itself is enhanced so significantly it provides opportunities for water-based recreation and the possibility of returning a potable supply to the water starved city. The strategies form an important catalyst for continued, enduring and sustainable growth in India and will set an important standard for future contemporary projects in India. Civil engineering, transport planning, lighting design and visualisation: Arup

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Lovedon Fields, Kings Worthy, Hampshire LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: B|D LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

ÂŠ B|D Landscape Architects

CLIENT: HAB HOUSING

Lovedon Fields, a new 50-home housing scheme and 4.6 hectare park on the edge of the village of Kings Worthy, has been designed with a holistic landscape strategy which aims to provide a rich and stimulating environment for residents, park users and visitors. The low key, ecological landscape includes allotments, a bike track, running circuit, natural play area, wildflower grassland, footpaths and enhanced boundary planting. Architect: John Pardey Architects Ecologist: Peach Ecology LVIA specialist: Landmark Practice

An exemplar of how planning for housing on the edge of an existing settlement should be delivered.

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SCIENCE MANAGEMENT & STEWARDSHIP

WINNER

Heathlands, Buckley, North Wales LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: TEP

CLIENT: REDROW HOMES NORTHWEST LTD.

The scheme created the funding to ensure the long term management of an important biodiversity asset.

A former claypit at Buckley, North Wales, has been transformed into a multi-pond nature reserve, financed by the creation of 300 new family homes. The claypit had been abandoned for many years and included a large, steep-sided lagoon which was unsafe. The site had been colonised by an important population of great crested newts and had been designated as a Natura 2000 Special Area of Conservation. The landscape practice TEP has designed a comprehensive restoration scheme. The unsafe lagoon was infilled, the derelict ‘moonscape’ landscape was reclaimed and converted to attractive open space and a nature reserve, with more than 50 new ponds created as

habitats for newts and other wildlife. Long term sustainability of the nature reserve has been secured through the financing of a warden and management plan. This exciting project shows how collaborative working in an ecologically led project can achieve development in close proximity to an SAC. The approach presented evidence to give regulators the confidence to agree a proposal and the process gave the developer a manageable cash flow. Geotechnical and hydrological design: WYG  Nature reserve warden: North East Wales Wildlife Natural Resources Wales: Ecological Regulator

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Hampstead Heath Ponds Project, London LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: ATKINS

The historic publicly-accessible landscape of Hampstead Heath attracts 7 million visitors a year, many of whom come to visit the two cascades of eleven ponds, the Highgate and Hampstead Chains. The ponds look natural but most are formed by man-made dams which are up to 300-years old. The project aimed to eliminate the risk of dam failure within an environmental-led ‘place-responsive’ design, tailoring the design solutions for flood management to recognise the importance and sensitivity of this historic landscape. Water quality has been improved and the natural ecology of the ponds has been enhanced.

CLIENT: CITY OF LONDON

Cost Consultant and Client Representative support: Capita Project Management, Planning, Stakeholder, Environmental, Landscape Architecture, Panel: Atkins Engineer and Dams, Reservoirs and Civil Engineering Team, Building Architecture: Walters and Cohen Contractor: BAM Nuttall Stakeholder Representative: Wilder Associates

This is a great example of executing a complex engineering project whilst securing biodiversity opportunities.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Less-maintained and high-diverse campus greenery in Singapore LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: YUN HYE HWANG

Two pilot projects at the National University of Singapore test new ways of transforming the existing campus into a vibrant ecological landscape. The first, a ‘naturalised garden’, is set on a sloping lawn in front of an office building and the second, a ‘wild green roof as a local habitat’ has been installed on the roof of another building. After a couple of years of observation, both projects have accumulated significantly high bio-diversity conservation value and the minimal maintenance required has reduced costs. This convincing project could be replicated across Singapore.

CLIENT: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE (NUS)

Construction, management and research: NUS Principal Contractors: BLG Construction (Naturalized garden) and EnviroSpace Consultation (Wild green roof)

A thorough piece of research that led to a practical application.

Granted research fund: NUS-MOE (Ministry Of Education) Tier 1 grant

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STRATEGIC LANDSCAPE PLANNING

WINNER

North Kyle Forest Masterplan, Scotland LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: OPTIMISED ENVIRONMENTS LTD (OPEN)

ÂŠ Optimised Environments Ltd

CLIENT: FOREST ENTERPRISE SCOTLAND

This is an innovative planning study that may have lessons for other large scale landscape led regeneration projects.

North Kyle Forest is in East Ayrshire, one of the most socially deprived areas in south-west Scotland. At 4,000 hectares, the forest is on a huge scale and includes commercial crops and abandoned mines. Once rich in minerals, it has undergone centuries of significant industrial change which has left a blighted landscape. The client commissioned a 30-year masterplan to provide a framework for the regeneration of the forest area that would repair a fragmented landscape and bring economic and health benefits for the people who live in the former mining communities which surround the forest. The team liaised with local communities

to prepare the masterplan. The first phase aims to establish the cultural heritage of the area, creating a water sports facility from a disused water void, improving access to the forest and restoring wetlands and habitat to increase biodiversity. Planner and economist: Ryden LLP Civil engineer: Mason Evans

HIGHLY COMMENDED

HS2 Landscape Design Approach LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: ARUP, AECOM

Arup and AECOM were commissioned to develop landscape design guidelines to inspire integrated and visionary design for Phase 1 of HS2, the largest railway infrastructure project undertaken by the UK Government in recent history. The Landscape Design Approach (LDA) document aims to guide and direct the landscape design for HS2 through all its stages, reflecting the project’s commitment to the role that good design will play in making it a success. The document assesses the character of the landscape which will be traversed by HS2 and suggests the type of design approach which would be most appropriate.

CLIENT: HS2 LTD

This is a highly aspirational design vision for a huge and challenging infrastructure project.

Sustainability, Climate Change resilience, Ecology and Visualisation / Graphics: Arup

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Plymouth Landscape, Seascape and Sensitivity Assessment LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: LUC

CLIENT: PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL

Represents a model demonstration of the conduct and presentation of a character assessment.

Plymouth is an important regional and economic centre with unique strategic planning challenges due to its historic maritime character, highly protected marine and estuarine habitats, and the nationally protected landscapes which form its setting. Previously there had been no landscape character information for Plymouth and the surrounding area. The new study provides a detailed landscape character profile of urban, rural and marine areas including a summary of features and guidance for managing change, offering a robust evidence base to inform policy and decision-making.

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STUDENT DISSERTATION

WINNER

Local Code: Planning for the Vernacular STUDENT: LORETTA BOSENCE

UNIVERSITY: UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH

Through its consideration of the human elements of the featured landscapes, and the role of people as place-makers, the author eloquently distils how the nuances of locality and vernacular can benefit the discipline of landscape architecture and policy as a whole.

Some of our most treasured, least assuming landscapes were shaped by the everyday intentions and actions of ordinary people. Yet often such interventions have been constrained by conflicting interests and planning restraints. The author suggests that the role of the landscape architect could be extended to produce a design code for vernacular placemaking, enabling non-designer citizens to ‘own’, influence and physically change the places they live in. The dissertation examines four landscapes shaped by vernacular practices, the conditions that brought them about and the regulations that restrict them now. By searching for commonalities and looking at new design precedents, the author seeks to determine the form of a new kind of design code for vernacular placemaking.

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STUDENT PORTFOLIO

WINNER New Perspectives on Calais – changing the landscape of migration NAME: JOELLE DARBY

UNIVERSITY: BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY

This ambitious work had the admirable aim of prioritising the dispossessed while being visually creative and evincing a strong individual graphic style.

The project aims to initiate a new perspective by reconnecting Calais to its neglected northern edge, threading a series of landscapes together to form a route to the refugee camp known as The Jungle and the broader landscape beyond. The Jungle site has been redesigned to demonstrate the healing process through physical means by removing barriers, elevating the main port road, and stitching landscapes together through paths, bridges and green infrastructure. New centres offer opportunities for people to come together to grow food, study, research and relax. The design connects Calais city centre with the industrial zone, the Jungle

site, WWII remains and wetlands & salt lagoons. The footprints of former refugee settlements are marked, memorialising those refugees who lost their lives.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

In Transition: The applications of landscape architectural design within transitional, marginal urban places

Rose Barton Student Portfolio

Cliffe Explosives Nature Reserve

STUDENT: HELEN WILLEY

STUDENT: ROSE BARTON

UNIVERSITY: EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF ART – THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

The author studied two projects, in Plaszów, Poland and Craigmillar, Scotland, both set within an urban context and located within city margins. The landscapes of each site share a common theme of being in a state of transition, Plaszów due to its abandonment to natural succession, Craigmillar – the antithesis – due to rapid changes as a result of increasing pressure for development by the expanding city. The study documents explorations of how landscape architecture can be appropriated within places which are marginal and transitional.

A beautifully presented and constructed portfolio which was unmatched in its demonstration of considered and appropriate landscape responses.

UNIVERSITY: KINGSTON UNIVERSITY, LONDON

The Hoo peninsula on the south bank of the Thames estuary is a former military industry site, now a nature reserve. The project addresses regional flood risk management of the Thames estuary, wetland restoration and heritage protection. Local waterways are enhanced by the creation of a new harbour and inland water infrastructure, recreating economically sustainable urban settings.

The portfolio consists of three projects. Design with the Palimpsest explores an alternative landscape strategy for Chester’s historic centre, taking advantage of its historic attractions by means of a new public realm framework. Mapping the Memory analyses the landscape of the former Plaszów concentration camp, Poland and outlines a masterplan. Landscape Scaffold proposes an urban landscape strategy for Royal Victoria Docks, London

STUDENT: SIGITA SIMONA PAPLAUSKAITE

This portfolio displayed a high creative maturity and the chosen sites were both engaging and provided the scope for developing exciting projects.

The panel felt this was an interesting and environmentally relevant project with a high clarity of purpose and depth of research.

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URBAN DESIGN & MASTERPLANNING

WINNER

Madinat Al Irfan, Muscat, Oman LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: ARUP

ÂŠ Omran

CLIENT: OMRAN

A project that responds with real depth and rigour to its context and climatic conditions. Its sustainable principles set a benchmark regionally and nationally.

The masterplan sets out a 40-year development framework for Madinat Al Irfan, a new 624-hectare city district in Muscat, the capital of Oman, creating a new mixed use downtown area for the city. Placemaking and sustainability are the two pillars of the masterplan, fulfilling the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aspirations to catalyse regional growth and set a model for long-term resilience. The masterplan promotes social sustainability and community cohesion with its emphasis on walkability and the use of dense mixed-use neighbourhoods. It responds to the rich Omani culture, dramatic landscape setting and arid desert climate by means of a range of contemporary and traditional design strategies. An innovative sustainable infrastructure

will reduce energy and water use. The design principles and standards of the masterplan has set a new development model for future resilient city master planning in the Sultanate and wider region. Masterplanner: Allies and Morrison Architects Peer Reviewer: Kim Wilkie Transport & Civil Infrastructure: Arup EIA: HMR Consultants Commercial Advice: Strategy& Geotechnical Investigation: FUGRO Local Consultant: Cowi Development Advice: Angus Gavin Transport Assessment: Parsons International Visualisation: Hochtief Vicon

WINNER

Rail Corridor: Lines of Life, Singapore LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD, JAPAN

CLIENT: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, SINGAPORE

In 2011 the KTM railway which bisected Singapore closed, releasing a continuous 24km strip of land running through the entire nation, including dense urban development and national reserve land. The new masterplan, won in competition, sets out to deliver not just a linear green corridor but an inspiring community space, stitching together the diverse culture and people of Singapore. The landscape architect developed a multi-layered site-specific analysis matrix to understand the many different conditions along the corridor. From this detailed site analysis a ‘pragmatic tool kit‘ was developed to help preserve and enhance existing ecosystems and guide sensitive interventions. The masterplan developed from consultations with stakeholders, conservation

groups and local community groups. The varying landscapes and neighbourhoods divide the route into 8 stretches, each with its own unique identity and colour scheme. With 164 access points, and amenity ‘platforms’ set a kilometre apart along the route, it is an accessible and welcoming public space for the community.

A truly inspiring project; it provides a transformative catalyst for development on an extensive scale but with an attention to detail along the length of the route.

Civil, Structural and Water engineer: Arup Singapore PTE Ltd Local Landscape practice: Tierra Designs PTE Ltd Architect: W Architects PTE Ltd Ecologist/horticulturalist: DHI Water and Environment (S) PTE Ltd Quantity Surveyors: Arcadis Singapore Ltd Environmental Graphic Design: The Buchan Group - Brisbane Lighting Design: Lighting Planners Associates

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OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION THROUGH VOLUNTEERING

WINNER

Dan Walker Proposed by: Sonia Jackett, LUC / Landscape Institute Scotland Committee

As a member of the Landscape Institute Scotland (LIS) committee, Dan Walker has worked strenuously to further the aims of the Institute and to improve the understanding of our profession by the wider public as well as ensuring continued support for our members. He has initiated and been involved in a number of large scale promotional projects but much of his work for the committee is less well known. He has promoted the profession through social media, running the LIS Twitter account and the informative and active LIS website. His tireless efforts have had a real impact and positively improved member communications. Dan has liaised with Scottish practices to organise two successful exhibitions for the Landscape Institute in Scotland. He is now

WINNER

Lily Bakratsa Proposed by: Karolina Moch, Farrer Huxley Associates

Lily is a skilled focus group moderator who has brought together resident groups to ensure community opinion is at the heart of landscape design. In 2016 she was an RHS Volunteer Mentor for the ‘Green Plan It’ Challenge, winning First Prize with Swanlea Secondary School in East London for the design of a community garden. Lily encouraged the students to involve the wider community through workshops and interviews. Their passion for the project helped them secure funding to build a working prototype for display at Hampton Court Palace Flower show in 2017.

Dan Walker has been a driving force behind the Landscape Institute in Scotland and is a role model to others.

involved in the future promotion of a ‘Landscape for Scotland’ at the Scottish Parliament.

Since 2016 Lily has acted as a Landscape Ambassador for the Landscape Institute in the UK and has recently visited two schools to inspire the next generation of landscape architects.

Lily Bakratsa has demonstrated the impactful work our profession needs to do to reach and inspire diverse communities.

WINNER

Robert Holden Proposed by: Jan Anderson, LI London Branch

A passionate landscape architect who has given his life to the profession following a long career in education. The profession owes him much.

Now retired, Robert Holden is one of the leading landscape architects and educators of his generation and has continued to champion the work of the Landscape Institute and landscape architects through his many voluntary activities. He has helped the LI London committee in many ways, informing them of the latest developments, arranging tours and supporting student involvement.

NEW LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

WINNER

Barry Craig Proposed by: Amey

Barry Craig graduated with a degree in architecture, and while studying developed a keen interest in design and in how people populated spaces, which led him into landscape architecture. In 2007 he started work as a garden designer to develop his experience as a landscape designer. His enthusiasm and gift for design soon brought him major public sector and private clients and his schemes won local and national awards. Barry is now Senior Landscape Architect with the Environment and Sustainability team of Amey, based in Belfast. He is a Regional Landscape Champion with the company and is well known for the awards he has won, both individually and as part of the design team for community awards in areas of deprivation. Since he joined Amey, Barry has been responsible for the production of a company portfolio which is shared throughout the company and given to clients to explain the benefits of involving a landscape architect. He is acting technical lead for the design part of the team, setting the standard for all landscape design work and presentation documents. His enthusiasm, energy and commitment has been applauded by external clients and acknowledged internally, with rewards for ‘going the extra mile’ and being a key leader in innovation and technical excellence.

Many students have benefited from his support as a Pathway Monitor. As part of the core team of the Public Sector Working Group, his organization and ideas have proved to be of great value. He is a real asset to Friends of the Landscape Library and Archive at Reading (FOLAR), organizing and speaking at seminars and conferences.

Barry demonstrates exemplary behaviour towards his colleagues, clients and the wider profession while also clearly ‘giving back’ to the next generation entering the profession.

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CLIENT OF THE YEAR

WINNER

Clinton Devon Estates

Proposed by: LHC

They respect and support the landscape architect’s vision and are exemplary in their willingness to engage with the professional team.

Clinton Devon Estates (CDE) own and manage 25,000 acres of land in Devon, including a major part of the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths Special Area of Conservation. Their mission is to ‘to secure the long term prosperity of the estates and the people who live and work on them in ways which care for the countryside and engage with the wider community.’ CDE commissioned LHC’s team of landscape architects, urban designers and architects to design a number of high quality landscape-led developments, including award-winning new homes at Budleigh Salterton and a new sustainable estate office for the company. In these projects and others currently in progress, Clinton Devon Estates engaged with the landscape architect and design

team from project inception, worked with designers to develop a clear vision and engaged with the local community and stakeholders. The resulting high quality design and development meets their ethos of ‘handing over something more valuable than we have today.’

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FELLOW’S AWARD FOR CREATING HEALTHY PLACES

WINNER London Borough of Barnet Corporate Natural Capital Account LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: JON SHEAFF AND ASSOCIATES

Jon Sheaff and Associates

CLIENT: LONDON BOROUGH OF BARNET

It demonstrates how investing in provision and maintenance of urban greenspace pays for itself many times over through reduction in costs of healthcare and reduction in the cost of sickness absence from work.

Natural capital refers to the stock of natural assets, such as parks and gardens, which provide benefits to people, such as recreation and its health and well-being benefits. The Corporate Natural Capital Account (CNCA) is a framework which captures the financial value of these assets and quantifies the costs of sustaining these benefits over time. The London Borough of Barnet is the first to produce a CNCA for 200 of its parks and open spaces. Through desk study and fieldwork, the team assessed the quality of Barnet’s green space and its value in relation to a range of positive economic, social and environmental benefits. The resulting account shows the enormous value of these open spaces for the wellbeing of residents of Barnet. The total value of benefits from them is estimated at more

than £1 billion over the next 25 years. The costs of maintaining these open spaces are estimated at £72 million over the same period – less than a tenth of the benefits they provide. Environmental economist: eftec  Landscape consultant: Peter Neal Consulting

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PRESIDENT’S AWARD

WINNER OF WINNERS

Bridget Joyce Square: Community Rainpark, White City, London LANDSCAPE PRACTICE: ROBERT BRAY ASSOCIATES  CLIENT: LONDON BOROUGH OF HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM

46 Photography / Robert Bray Associates / London Borough of Hammersmith and Fullham

Every year, the President makes an award, selecting from the best of the best. This year Merrick DentonThompson, president of the Landscape Institute, chose a project that was the winner of the Adding Value through Landscape category. He said: ‘For me, as President, it was very difficult to set aside any one project as being outstanding because of the excellence of the submitted work and the breadth of influence the profession is now having everywhere. My choice this year demonstrates

an exemplary approach to partnership working in delivering solutions to so many problems in a way that can, and should be, replicated nationally. Robert Bray Associates’ Community rain park at Bridget Joyce Square in the White City Estate, Shepherds Bush, is the outright winner this year. It involved an everyday street, with so many issues that exist in every town in the country, transformed by a head teacher and a residents’ association taking the initiative to stimulate action. And the landscape practice has listened and

empowered change by solving so many conflicts through an intelligent place making solution. The highlights of the scheme deliver: a safe passage to school for children, a place for parents to meet – enabling community development and cohesion – a landscape that overtly demonstrates the much needed resilience to unpredictable climatic events and in a way that engages the local community in understanding the issues around climate change through a citizen science approach’.

Bridget Joyce Square is one of the first UK examples of a Sustainable Drainage Scheme (SuDS) which has been integrated into a new landscape for the local community. The project was initiated by residents and by the head teacher of Randolph Beresford School, who had long recognised that the road in front of the school with its daily clash of car and pedestrian drop-off and pick-up, was unsafe and unhealthy. They also wanted a space where the community could hold events such as the annual fair, seasonal markets and other projects, and took their proposal to their local council, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was perfect timing; the council had been looking for a landmark retrofit SuDS project to demonstrate a green infrastructure approach to flood mitigation. The residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; proposals were adopted and aligned with a sustainable drainage scheme which

An exemplary approach to partnership working in delivering solutions to so many problems in a way that can, and should be, replicated nationally. 1. Bridget Joyce Square, White City, London 2. V iew from the school roof showing a rain garden in the foreground and large SuDS basin behind 3. G eranium and Crocosmia flowering in mid-summer alongside the Miscanthus. 4. T he street before improvement. Car parking to each side of the street made crossing the road at peak times hazardous and encouraged driving to school. 1 ÂŠ 46 Photography / Robert Bray Associates / London Borough of Hammersmith and Fullham 2, 3, 4 Robert Bray Associates / London Borough of Hammersmith and Fullham

would demonstrate its effectiveness and the additional benefits it could bring to urban environments. Robert Bray Associates has taken up the ideas of the community and the aims of the council and integrated them into a new urban landscape. It takes the form of a linear park, created by completely remodelling the existing road alongside the school and merging it with the school parking area. Vehicular access has been severely restricted by careful planting, surface variation and signage. This new space creates a link between the school and two playgrounds, a younger years and an adventure playground, on the other side of the road. It has transformed the school entrance into a place

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around which children can play and parents can meet. Sustainable drainage is an intrinsic part of the new landscape. It is a discipline which requires an in-depth understanding of volumetric discharge rate and water quality requirements and the ability to integrate these successfully into landscapes. The aim is to maximise natural losses to the ground, plants and air and generate an appropriate level of rainwater storage capacity so that the system can act like a large sponge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; storing and cleaning rainwater and releasing it very slowly to the combined sewer over a prolonged period of time. Rainwater runoff from the school, the adventure playground buildings and from permeable paving is intercepted and directed to a rain garden at each side of the school main entrance or to two sunken SuDS basins running

To the wider community the new space is a safe and pleasant route to walk or cycle through, or to pause in relative peace and quiet when the children are in school.

at the centre of the space. They are contained within low granite walls, wide enough to act as seats for parents, neighbours and children. The requirements of SuDS gave an opportunity to introduce new aesthetics and plant qualities into the space. The rain gardens are planted in an intimate, colourful style with showy ornamental grasses and groups of colourful flowering perennials. The SuDS basins are planted with ornamental birch trees, chosen for their light canopy and small leaves, combined with an understorey of grasses. A ‘Wiggly Wall’, a popular opportunity for children’s play, snakes through the grasses of the two basins, using the occasional shallow storage of water to add adventure to the experience of travelling along the wall. The rain gardens at the school entrance are designed to ‘come alive when it rains’. The overhead roof runoff has been intercepted and directed into a ‘rain sculpture’, an overhead channel supported on Cor-Ten posts which directs the water into a helical chain of steel ropes secured at the base. When it rains, water flows over the steel ropes and is held between them by surface tension, appearing as sheets of dancing water. The rainwater also appears to flow up and down between the ropes, a spectacle which attracts children from the school and everybody passing by. These gestures bring awareness of how landscape responds to weather conditions and to many will be the first introduction to these new ways of managing rainfall in our urban environments. To the wider community the new space is a safe and pleasant route to

5. T he main basin after early morning rain with the bridge that leads to the new playground gateway 6. T he ‘rain sculpture’ has a steel channel collar which directs rainwater onto a helix of steel ropes 7. T he main basin in action, continuing to store rainwater after rainfall in April 2017 8. L ythrum and Alchemilla form pockets of colour and texture within the ornamental grasses of the main basin © Robert Bray Associates / London Borough of Hammersmith and Fullham

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walk or cycle through, or to pause in relative peace and quiet when the children are in school. It has responded directly to the needs of the community and has been a catalyst for social cohesion in a deprived part of London. Merrick Denton-Thompson said: ‘The project delivers all these benefits and more, but without losing its sense of fun and mischief. In fact the entire scheme revolves around a much loved feature in the landscape, a low wall that every child cannot resist the temptation to balance on! For thousands of children in the future their approach to life and the bonds with this place will be driven by the memory of the wall. Who can predict the other outcomes from this outstanding project – community development has no boundaries?‘

9. Children can’t resist walking along the raised walls – part of the playful theme of the park 10. School children line up to walk the Wiggly Wall as part of the formal ‘Opening Day’ © Robert Bray Associates / London Borough of Hammersmith and Fullham

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The Judging Who’s Who Adding Value through Landscape

Design for a Medium Scale Development

Design for a Small Scale Development

Landscape Policy and Research

Chair: Ece Ozdemiroglu, eftec James Clarke CMLI, Grant Associates David Lunts, Greater London Authority

Chair: Matt Bell, Berkeley group Andrée Davies, Davies White Associates Daisy Froud, The Bartlett Kevin Johnson CMLI, Sunderland City Council Adrian Wikeley CMLI, LUC

Design for a Large Scale Development and Design for a Temporary Landscape Chair: Brian Quinn, Design Council CABE Abby Crisostomo, KLH Sustainability Andy Harris CMLI, John McAslan + Partners Jeremy Lord, Farrer Huxley Associates Christine Wahba CMLI, Trinity Design Lau

Heritage & Conservation

Chair: Jenifer White CMLI, Historic England Keith Challis, National Trust Kate Pinnock, Ingham Pinnock

Local Landscape Planning

Chair: Simon Ogden, Sheffield City Council James Lord CMLI, HTA Design Graham Woodward CMLI, Atkins

Science, Management and Stewardship Chair: Paul Tiplady CMLI, Craggatak Lisa Creaye-Griffin CMLI, Surrey County Council Kate Lynch CMLI, Islington Council

Urban Design and Masterplanning Chair: Robin Buckle, Transport for London Jake Ford, White Arkitekter Oliver Lee CMLI, The Landscape Partnership Alison Osborne-Brown CMLI, One Ltd Dima Zogheib CMLI, Arup

Communications and Presentation

Chair: Dr Sarah McCarthy, Landscape Research Group Anthony McGuigan CMLI, Paul Hogarth Company Adam White FLI, Davies White Associates

Chair: Sue Ireland Sibylla Hartel CMLI, Gustafson Porter + Bowman Sion Thaysen CMLI, Allen Scott

Chair: Jill White CMLI Rebecca Hughes FLI Dr Tatum Mathuru, Society for the Environment

Strategic Landscape Planning

Chair: Prof Carys Swanwick Hon FLI Phil Askew CMLI, Peabody Wendy Lancaster CMLI, Barton Willmore

Student Portfolio and Student Dissertation

Chair: Christine House CMLI, Wardell Armstrong James Brisco CMLI, LUC Peter Kennedy, J & L Gibbons Joanne Phillips, Manchester Metropolitan University James Trevers, rankinfraser landscape architecture

Fellows’ Award

Chair: Paj Valley FLI, Atkins Neil Williamson FLI PPLI, consultant

Volunteer of the Year and New Landscape Professional of the Year Daniel Cook, Chief Executive, Landscape Institute Merrick Denton-Thompson OBE FLI PLI, Landscape Institute

Awards Committee:

Chair: David Withycombe CMLI, Land Management Services Rob Beswick CMLI, B|D landscape architects Anne Evans CMLI, Anne Evans Landscape Architects Nicola Hancock CMLI, TEP Paj Valley FLI, Atkins Jo Watkins CMLI PPLI

The Landscape Institute is grateful to the sponsors of the awards. They are:

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F E AT U R E By Ruth Slavid

Touching the imagination

Davies White won triple awards at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, with a project that should improve understanding of designing for children with autism - and also give them great pleasure.

Adam White and Andrée Davies have achieved something very special with a triple win at the RHS show at Hampton Court this summer. In addition to an RHS Gold Medal, a considerable achievement in itself, the practice won both the Best in Show award, selected by the judges, and the People’s Choice award for its Zoflora & Caudwell Children’s Wild Garden. Adam describes this win as happening because, ‘we touched the imagination of the judges and of people at home’. Garden writer Monty Don, for example, said that this was his favourite garden of all the gardens that he had seen during the summer’s shows. He loved just sitting there in peace. The garden will find its final home at the Caudwell International Children’s Centre at Keele University in Staffordshire. Purpose designed, this clinical centre aims to lead the way in autism diagnosis, treatment and research. By first displaying the garden at Hampton Court, Adam White and his business partner Andrée Davies were able not only to win some valuable publicity but also to try out a lot of ideas in a way that is often difficult in live projects. ‘The clients let us have free rein with the design,’ White said, ‘to use all those good ideas that often get cut out.’ These good ideas come from the practice’s more than 10 years of working with children and concentrating on play – and of learning from their ultimate customers, the children who will use the spaces. ‘We always say that consultation is a waste of time,’ White said. ‘It is genuine engagement that is more important.’ The practice always runs workshops with children, even telling the client that these are free if they demur. On the garden for Hampton Court the process was the same, working with autistic children and also with Dr Juli Crocombe, Director of Clinical Services and Research at Caudwell. ‘She took our early ideas and explained about the autism spectrum,’ White said. Some autistic children are hyper sensitive and don’t like surprises, for example needing to see where

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footpaths are leading. Others may be hypo-sensitive. White and Davies therefore designed a garden with a one-way route through it, having a defined entrance and exit, and a single route to follow. At the start of the route the space was fairly open, the path was solid and the planting was low. As one progressed through, the path became more fractured, there were more twists and turns and moments of delight, and the planting became taller and more colourful. This allowed children who were disturbed by too much stimulation to stop at the earliest, least threatening part of the garden, while those who were seeking more excitement could progress through it. But the plan of the garden was not the only vital element – so were the materials, and the planting. Davies is keen to raise understanding of the importance of horticulture. She said, ‘We bang on about the fact that landscape architects are often bad at plants. They come out of college and don’t know one end of a plant from another.

It was the same 19 years ago. I decided that this is something we need to be good at.’ The two set out deliberately to enhance their understanding of plants, and they see this as an important differentiator from architects when designing external spaces. Davies said, ‘Architects think it’s all about paving and street furniture and that they can do it. But they can’t work with living material. That’s led us into planting for children particularly. We want to design planting that’s appealing to children, robust enough, that they can play with. It is so important for us to make this relevant to the wider public.’

There is a trap when designing for children, both indoors and outdoors, of relying on bold colours because ‘children like brightness’. At the Hampton Court garden, Davies White eschewed this approach, choosing flowers that were mainly blue and yellow, and also focusing on leaf shape, on the sound that plants make in the wind, and on their texture, such as whether they had hairy stems. ‘We got a lot of comments about how calm it was,’ White said. One of the key plants is a weeping beech, which creates a den beneath it where children can play and hide. And the way that the team

Play has moved on but horticulture is way down the agenda. Local authorities don’t have the budgets to manage and maintain it.

worked with plants did not stop with the planting. They also worked hard to avoid what the RHS has identified as ‘plant blindness’ by encouraging the children to really interact with the plants through using a plant press, incorporating plants in storytelling and other activities. There is also an area of edible plants in the design. Davies said that there is some concern that by encouraging children to eat plants, they may decide that all plants are edible. So instead, there is a dedicated area for edible plants, with instructions that in other areas the plants are not for eating. Nevertheless, ensuring plants are not toxic topped Andree Davies’ list of requirements for choosing plants for children – a requirement that may seem obvious but is, she said, too often ignored. The other essential is that the plants are robust, she said, so that they can be trampled on and recover. Ground-cover plants such as Ivies work well. Although the show garden allowed the designers to use their imaginations, they were also concerned about practicality. So all the plants that were chosen were available from retailers relatively locally. For the hard surfaces, Davies White was keen to avoid a boundgravel path. Instead, it bought a single 10-tonne boulder and cut slabs from it. At the start of the path through the garden, large pieces from the boulder abut each other. As one moves through the garden, the pieces become smaller and more randomised, rather like crazy paving. This adds to the liveliness of the garden. Smells were an important consideration. Some autistic children can find smells as over-stimulating as sights. The team therefore chose plants with ‘contained’ smells, which only release them on touch rather than wafting through the air. There are also ‘smell pots’ throughout the garden, where children can experience a range of aromas. These were developed with the sponsor, Zoflora. The space below the garden was not ignored. A periscope allowed visitors to look into a cave under the

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ground which had been seeded with mushroom spores and was growing a range of edible fungi, including shiitake, chestnut and oyster mushrooms. White and Davies evidently planned the garden very carefully, but there were some surprises – and they were the best bit. ‘Until children visit and use it, you can’t see it working.,’ Davies said. As expected the children slid and climbed and bounced. But some also started digging in the sand, and throwing pebbles around. ‘Building some structures using loose materials is a great idea,’ Davies said, adding ‘That is what is really interesting about a show garden. As a research project it was a great opportunity to test out things we have been dying to do.’ If this was all the pair had done – created a fabulous show garden full of ideas, that won every prize going and addressed some serious issues – it would have been impressive and worth celebrating. But they have done far more, because this garden will have an afterlife. It is being installed at the Cauldwell International Children’s Centre or, as Adam White is careful to explain, ‘re-imagined’. He says, ‘One of the things with a show garden, and we do have to remind people, is that you can’t just lift a design and lower it somewhere else. You have to design for a sense of place.’ In addition, a show garden is designed to be viewed from all sides which will not be the case in the final destination. The permanent garden has to function on a day-to-day basis, and be managed and maintained. But the pair are determined not to lose the magic. The garden will serve two functions. It will be a place where children and their families can relax while going through treatment. And it also has a didactic function, to help families understand what works for their children. Just as, within the building, families will learn to arrange their homes so as to prevent panic attacks, so the garden will also serve as an example of how to create nonthreatening outdoor spaces. Having learnt a lot about what works from the show garden, the pair hope to study the use of the finished garden

An example of how to create non-threatening outdoor spaces.

and capture data for a case study. Adam White says, ‘A lot of people do a show garden, and it’s the be-all and end-all. For us this is a much bigger project and very close to our hearts. We want to help with mental health. We were away for 10 years (the practice last had a show garden 10 years ago) and won a gold medal, and we came back because the stars aligned.’ He adds, ‘Play has moved on but horticulture is way down the agenda. Local authorities don’t have budgets

to manage and maintain it.’ This is one of the topics that he plans to address in his forthcoming presidency of the Landscape Institute. He says, ‘My manifesto is very much based on the philosophy of what we do at Davies White – reconnecting children with nature, therapeutic landscape, trying to take landscape to a young

audience. We want to reconnect families to nature. Horticulture is not secondary – it is woven into everything.’ Davies White’s experience at garden shows has, he believes, important lessons for the profession. ‘We have won seven LI awards,’ he says,‘ and six BALI awards – but when press releases come out from clients, it is the RHS Gold Medal that is always mentioned. We must make more of an effort with the LI awards of explaining what they are to clients. To actually win an LI award is more valuable to a commissioning body. The LI awards may need to look at for instance the Society of Garden Design awards – they get a far higher profile. Maybe when I become President I can have a bit of influence.‘ So why is this busy and ambitious practitioner going to become President

at a relatively young age (he is 44). He says, ‘When I considered standing for the role a couple of things were quite influential,’ he said. ‘One was my respect for Merrick Denton-Thompson. He was one of the first people I talked to when I was thinking about setting up a practice. He asked me, do you want to make a difference.’ He believes that the LI should get closer to garden designers. ‘I know lots of landscape architects who are garden designers and vice versa,’ he says. ‘We should work together more. There are huge lessons to learn from the Society of Garden Designers. I would like to see the LI showcase itself at Chelsea and Hampton Court. It would be great maybe at Hampton court to have an LI-supported garden where landscape architects could create their dream landscape. The real world, with its tight briefs and

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A Guide to Playful Planting for Children including those on the Autism Spectrum. Andrée Davies – Director, Davies White Ltd.

budgets, can stifle the imagination.’ This is not the only area where the LI needs to enlarge its embrace. ‘We don’t have enough members in design management, he says. ‘We should engage with science and other fields. I hope that is an area we will be striving toward. We need to make the Institute applicable to them as much as to design.‘ As important as appealing to current professionals is attracting the next generation. ‘We need to appeal to a much wider audience,’ White says. ‘I have strengths in talking to the media, to promote the profession and show what is possible. We need to get more young people in.’ And, he adds, ‘Landscape architecture is fantastic. We design spaces that change four times thorough the year. We never know who will walk through that space.’ Adam White runs half of a very accomplished, award-winning practice. But more than any of that, it is probably his enormous enthusiasm that is the greatest contribution he can make.

1. Choose robust plants that can stand a bit of trampling, like Rubus tricolor, Ivies, Epimedium, Alchemilla ethrypodia. Encourage children to get in amongst the planting, playing hide and seek running through an imagined jungle, this is all part of enjoying the environment. Allow flowers to be picked, make daisy chains. This is how children learn to enjoy the natural environment and get it know it better and value it more. 2. Think about texture as much as colour; hairy stems like Rubus tricolor, soft and feathery foliage like Selinum wallichianum, the leathery leaves of Rodgersia. Different shapes, heartshaped leaves of Epimedium and Cercidaphyllum, large ridged leaves of hostas. 3. Use colour in moderation. When designing for children the default is always to opt for primary colours, but this can be too much for some children on the Autism spectrum. Green has a calming effect, and creates a tranquil atmosphere which in turn can have a relaxing effect on behaviour. 4. W ith a condition like autism gradual change is better than sudden change, this can be true of dementia as well. So gradually add colour, texture and sound with planting, as you progress through the space. This way people can choose how much sensory information they feel comfortable with. 5. S ound is reduced in an environment with a lot of planting as it filters noise. 6. Water creates a calming atmosphere and can mask other sounds. This makes it possible to change the focus of sounds and noises. 7. Choose plants that have a bit of character. We used Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’ its weeping habit means the branches come right down to

the ground and underneath is a space to create a little den. 8. Craft activities like pressing flowers and leaves can help focus children’s attention on the details, and help them to slow down and look carefully, count the veins on the leaves, compare the edges of the leaves, and the shades of green on the top and bottom of the leaf. 9. Let the grass grow long, mow a path through it and change this from time to time. This will add another texture and long grass softens the overall look and is good for wildlife. 10. Add meadow flowers to the grass and encourage children to pick them, this is a great way for children to get to know more about nature. 11. H ave some edible plants, fruit trees, blackcurrant bushes, wild strawberries so children can gather fruit for themselves. It is a good idea to keep food plants in one area so children can understand they can pick from that area and not others where there will be plants growing that are not suitable to eat. 12. Use scented plants carefully. In places with children who don’t like too much sensory stimulation, keep the scent to leaves that need to be crushed, like rosemary or currant bushes. Or choose plants that you have to get up close to in order to smell them. With scented plants that broadcast their scent, introduce one at a time, and keep them spaced apart so the scents don’t mingle. 13. K eep little paths through the planting so that children can run around and hide in the planting without doing too much damage to the plants. 14. F ilter out plants that are poisonous. Plants have varying levels of toxicity; some are well known others less so. Plants known to be the most toxic are to be avoided eg Daphne, Digitalis, and Euphorbia. Plants with large thorns and prickles should also be avoided.

Plant list Hampton Court This is the indicative plant list that Davies White produced as part of its initial design. We have included some of the initial comments to show how the practice communicated its intention. Upper storey trees •F agus sylvatica ‘Pendula’ – weeping beech (a lovely weeping beech that has a low canopy with the branches sweeping the ground, this make a great den space underneath. Its huge limbs cascade down make a perfect climbing tree.) •P runus schmittii – cherry (cross between P. avium and P. canescens, with a nice upright crown that is good for letting in light to the underplanting. Spring flowers loved by bees and beautiful orange colour in autumn.)

• Prunus sargentii ‘Charles Sargent’ – cherry (Particularly good autumn colour) • Alnus glutinosa – alder (likes damp conditions so was set next to the little stream. Unlike other alders, glutinosa coppices well, producing useful poles and firewood. It is also nitrogen fixing so good for overall soil health. The wood is also good for growing mushrooms on. • Corylus avellana – hazel (often associated with the hazel dormouse, which eats the caterpillars it finds on theleaves and the nuts to fatten up for winter. Hazelnuts are also eaten by woodpeckers, nuthatches, jays and native mammals such as red squirrel, wood mouse and bank vole) • Malus ‘Evereste’ – crab apple • Sorbus aucuparia – mountain ash • Amelanchier lamarckii • Cercidiphyllum japonicum – katsura tree

Shrubs and perennials • Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Patriot’ – blueberry • Viburnum opulus ‘Compactum’ – guelder rose • Sarcococca confusa – winter box • Ribes sanguineum ‘King Edward VII’ – currant • Cotoneaster franchettii • Ajuga reptans ‘Catlin’s Giant’ – bugle • Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso – lavender • Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate’ – Joe Pye weed • Eurybia divaricata – white wood aster • Geranium sanguineum ‘Album’ • Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’ • Hypericum androsaemum • Alchemilla mollis – lady’s mantle • Fragaria vesca – wild strawberry • Vinca minor – periwinkle

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F E AT U R E By Julie Proctor

Mapping our greenspace When Scotland launched its Greenspace Map in 2011, it was the first of its kind in the world. Now an innovative partnership with Ordnance Survey has extended greenspace mapping to England and Wales. The launch focused on the general public’s use for recreation and leisure but this is also a powerful resource for landscape professionals.

In July 2017, Ordnance Survey (OS) published a free interactive digital map identifying accessible recreational and leisure greenspace in Britain – parks, public gardens, playing fields, sports areas, play spaces, allotments and community gardens. This comprehensive map of greenspaces is available through the OS website, OS Maps app and as an open dataset. For public sector users and academics, there is also OS MasterMap Greenspace which is available through the Public Service Map Agreement (PSMA) and One Scotland Mapping Agreement (OSMA). This categorises all urban greenspaces into 22 different types and provides vital geospatial data to support planning, management and research. Why greenspace mapping? Greenspaces matter to people and they make a big difference to quality of life and quality of place. There is a well-developed body of evidence which shows that greenspace delivers a wide range of benefits for people and communities. They improve our health and wellbeing, deliver environmental services, and create safer and more attractive places where people want to live and businesses choose to invest. We know that greenspaces can provide cost-effective and sustainable solutions to some of the most urgent problems facing us today – our health, our communities, our economy. To deliver these wide-ranging benefits, and to safeguard the management of our open spaces, we need accurate information about the type, extent, distribution and accessibility of greenspace.

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Developmental work in Scotland The driver for the first Scottish Greenspace Map was Scottish planning policy which placed a requirement on planning authorities to prepare open space audits and strategies – and set out a standard typology of open spaces. Most local authorities didn’t even have a single asset register for the open space they owned and managed, and so just doing the audit proved to be quite a challenge! Greenspace mapping started in Scotland in 2007, when Greenspace Scotland began to work with councils on greenspace mapping characterisation. This involved using aerial photo interpretation (API) to assign a primary and secondary open space type to every MasterMap polygon. These individual datasets quickly proved to be significant assets for councils – supporting the development

of open space audits and strategies, the assessment of accessibility, and informing decisions about greenspace management and investment. Other organisations, operating at regional and national levels, started to express interest in this local data. Planning teams wanted to use it for crossboundary work on strategic development plans and green network mapping. Academics wanted access to underpin research on the links between greenspace, health and deprivation. Plans were formulated to develop a consistent national greenspace dataset for urban Scotland. This involved completing mapping characterisation work with all 32 Scottish councils; then collating, cleaning and publishing the data. Scotland’s Greenspace Map was published in September 2011 as GIS data and as an online interactive map.

Working with Ordnance Survey One of the biggest challenges with any information resource is keeping it up-to-date. The initial plan for each local authority to keep their data updated quickly proved to be unworkable. The solution was a new partnership with Ordnance Survey to develop the next generation of greenspace mapping. OS has a huge geo-database, surveyors on the ground and regularly flies new aerial imagery. Early technical trials indicated that OS would be able to produce the greenspace map and the project was taken forward as the first collaborative partnership with OS under the provisions of the new One Scotland Mapping Agreement (OSMA). A cross-sectoral project board supported the collaborative work to develop the methodology and products. This included Greenspace Scotland providing project management, Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, NHS Health Scotland, sportscotland, Central Scotland Green Network Trust, Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership, CoSLA and the Improvement Service. Initially developed as a Scottish project, in 2014, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a commitment to prepare a map of publicly accessible greenspace in England and Wales. The ground was laid for a fruitful cross-border collaboration. In England and Wales, with the project led by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), working with a wider stakeholder group. Using the greenspace map Since the launch, most of the attention has focused on OS Open Greenspace and how it can be used to find new places to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. But the real powerhouse is OS MasterMap Greenspace. This detailed dataset categorises every urban greenspace, from private gardens and roadside verges, to public parks, school grounds and woodlands.

categories of urban greenspace

At-a-glance graphic of greenspace provision

Each MasterMap polygon is attributed with up to two functional and two form types. OS Open Greenspace provides site extents and access points for greenspaces which are typically accessible to the public, for example, parks, public gardens, sports areas and allotments. The two products can be used together, allowing access points to be used alongside the more detailed MasterMap layer. In Scotland, the greenspace map has been used extensively to support work on open space audits and strategies, development plans, resilience strategies and green network plans. Speaking at the launch of the Greenspace Map, Scotland’s Minister for Local Government and Housing, Kevin Stewart said: ’Evidence shows that improving access to local greenspace benefits physical health, mental wellbeing and provides social opportunities. The Greenspace Map helps to identify where there is a lack of open space so local authorities, public sector partners and community groups can develop plans to improve these areas within local neighbourhoods. These maps provide the cornerstone for open space strategies and green network plans, as well as supporting ground-breaking academic research on greenspace and health.’

Analysing public access to greenspace

Looking ahead Ordnance Survey, BEIS and the Scottish Government expect the greenspace data to be instrumental in helping the public sector create and manage health and wellbeing strategies, active travel plans and various environmental initiatives, including air quality, biodiversity, housing, regeneration and flood resilience. Already new uses and ideas are emerging. In Scotland, exploratory work is under way to use the data to provide a more robust measure for assessing the Scotland Performs National Indicator of ‘improving

Evidence shows that improving access to local greenspace benefits physical health, mental wellbeing and provides social opportunities.

Greenspace examples mapped in the datasets

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• Defra and the Office for National Statistics will be using the greenspace mapping, in conjunction with property information, for work on natural capital in urban environments and to measure the ecosystem services provided by nature and green areas. •T he Heritage Lottery Fund has expressed interest in how the data could be used to enhance the Heritage Index, developed with the RSA. •H ealth trusts are starting to look at the role of the greenspace map in supporting green prescriptions and GPs’ exercise referral schemes. • The OS Geovation Hub is developing a ‘Greener, Smarter Communities and Cities Challenge’ which will see developers using geographic information to design innovative solutions to real-world urban challenges. What started as a simple response to a planning policy requirement to audit open space has developed into a powerful information resource for landscape professionals, the public sector, researchers and the general public. Delivering greenspace mapping for all of urban Britain is a significant achievement but the exciting part of the project has just begun, as organisations start to use the data to develop greener, healthier and smarter places. Julie Procter is chief executive of Greenspace Scotland

access to local greenspace’ and an updated State of Scotland’s Greenspace report will be produced later this year. Colleagues in England and Wales are just starting to explore the potential of the greenspace data, for example:

Useful links: accessing the greenspace data

Greenspace types in OS MasterMap Greenspace

OS MasterMap Greenspace is freely available to all members of the Public Service Mapping Agreement and One Scotland Map Agreement through the usual online ordering service. This includes all Councils, Government agencies and the NHS. It will also be available soon for academic users through EDINA and can be downloaded from Digimap. More about OS MasterMap Greenspace www. ordnancesurvey.co.uk/businessand-government/products/osmastermap-greenspace.html

Function Public Park or Garden School Grounds Institutional Grounds Golf Course Amenity – Residential or Business Amenity – Transport Camping or Caravan Park Religious Grounds Cemetery Allotments or Community Growing Spaces Private Garden Playing Field Other Sports Facility Tennis Court Play Space Bowling Green Land Use Changing Natural

OS Open Greenspace can be viewed through the map app OS Maps www.os.uk/osmaps and available from the Apple and Android play stores. The open dataset is available from OS via www.os.uk/opendata. More about OS Open Greenspace www. ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getoutside/ greenspaces/ More about greenspace scotland www.greenspacescotland.org.uk

Form Open Semi-Natural Inland Water Woodland Beach or Foreshore Manmade Surface Multi Surface

Greenspace types in OS Open Greenspace Public park or garden Play space Playing field Golf course Tennis courts Bowling green Other sports facility Allotments or community growing spaces Religious ground Cemetery

F E AT U R E

Local authority open space strategies Fife Council used the greenspace data to provide audit information for their settlement accounts. This enabled the quantity and accessibility of greenspace in every town and village to be assessed, leading to the identification of strategic priorities for greenspace management and investment. Regional green network opportunity mapping The greenspace map provided the starting point for identifying Green Network Spatial Priorities in the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Strategic Development Plan. A GIS-based analysis was developed to represent strategic Green Network opportunities. This considered four data layers: existing greenspace provision and path networks; strategic biodiversity opportunities; access to greenspace; and major land use change and social need. The analysis identified geographical locations where there was a strong correlation between data layers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and so opportunities to deliver multiple benefits through targeting resources on those areas. This led to the identification of 14 regional strategic Green Network opportunities in the Strategic Development Plan. This illustrates how the greenspace data can be used in combination with other datasets. The Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership has led the way in using the greenspace data to identify strategic green network opportunities for biodiversity and habitat networks, social need and regeneration opportunities, climate change adaptation and resilience. Current work includes using the new OS MasterMap Greenspace layer to look at flood risk and resilience strategies.

Research on health and greenspace Academics have used the data to undertake ground-breaking research on the impact of greenspace on health. Work by the Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health (CRESH) has focused on health inequalities, mental health and wellbeing, in relation to neighbourhood availability of greenspace, with a recently published study looking at the role of greenspace in childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s social, emotional and behavioural development. Researchers are excited about new opportunities for longitudinal studies as the new OS Greenspace products will be maintained and updated every six months.

Top: Greenspace users can find access information for a variety of provisions Bottom: Datasets are a tool for organisations planning openspace

Using the greenspace map in Scotland

Telephone: 0800 612 2083

Email: mail@sureset.co.uk

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F E AT U R E By Eddy Fox

My many

Eddy Fox with students

The recent LI conference in Manchester, looked outward from the city. In contrast, this very personal piece of writing looks at the diverse faces of the place.

Manchesters Contained wilderness in the Northern Quarter

Chorlton Ees: sewage works meadow

Manchester adopted me rather than the other way round. I went reluctantly and with no intention of staying but, 25 years later, here I am. My journey as a landscape architect has paralleled the city’s journey of rediscovery and reinvention since the early ‘90s. There are so many Manchesters, so many layers of history and emotion – personal and collective – embedded in its streets and spaces: how would I describe them to an outsider? I might evoke Manchester, the ruderal city, hollowed out by the slum clearances and industrial closures of the 60s and 70s, where a third nature has reclaimed derelict sites and recycled industrial wastelands as sanctuaries of birds and butterflies. The abandoned city whose voids were first reappropriated by pioneer species – human as well as vegetable. Sites colonised by birch and buddleia, Himalayan balsam and knotweed, elder and willow, or by garden escapees; fragile grasslands and bee orchids, new hybrids and plant communities prospering in poisoned lands and sharing space with the socially marginalised: homeless people, travellers, graffiti artists, drug addicts, BMX-ers and dog fighters. Pomona Island, the abandoned Manchester port of the Ship Canal, islanded by infrastructure, a wilderness on the edge of the prospering city centre. Clayton Vale, a lost paradise of weeds and woodlands in the wastes of a chemical works; or Chorlton Ees, where orchids grow on an old sewage works. A city where brick, steel, concrete and glass are locked in a cyclical struggle against an irrepressible nature. And I would go on to describe Manchester, the infill city, remaking itself from the inside out, replacing mills with skyscrapers, filling in the gaps with the steel, glass and concrete signifiers of its newfound confidence; the northern powerhouse intoxicated with its own strapline.

Birley Fields, Hulme

F E AT U R E

Instead of grasping the opportunity to reappropriate these holes as parks for the new city, every vacant plot is filled, every inconvenient building is pulled down and replaced by towers of offices or apartment blocks. History is selectively conserved and celebrated to fit the official narrative. A centre which 20 years ago was a pockmarked landscape of industrial survivals, failed modernist experiments, dereliction and vacancy, only called home by a crazy or unlucky few, is no longer the scene of drunken midnight brawls but of silent struggles between developers for the last remaining plots, or architects over whose new skyscraper is biggest and shiniest. Density is the new mantra and height is the goal. Tall buildings are private, defensible, programmable and privileged. Public space is open, unbounded, unpredictable, diverse…dangerous. Or perhaps I would focus on Manchester, the accidental city, where no strategic vision or grand design has prospered. A city where chaos theory is the regeneration strategy, reinventing itself through a series of opportunistic interventions. An algal city, responding to new stimuli blindly and dumbly. Unfinished, emerging, incomplete and full of strange contrasts. Where infrastructure spreads in fits and starts and new buildings follow it like crows in the wake of a tractor. A city where a high tech factory of mediated news and condensed culture is ringed by social-housing estates built for the dockers of another city. Where the new cathedrals of sport tower over back-to-backs, industrial estates and hypermarkets; where multistoreyed student castles loom over Victorian chimneys and mills. Where the newly clad social housing blocks are visually indistinguishable – but socially distinct – from the chic new high-rise apartments. Where the growing hordes of the homeless and dispossessed give the lie to the myth of prosperity; and where, only a short walk from the urban core, you will still find sink estates, tracts of vacant and contaminated land and rotting mills. And then, easily overlooked, is Manchester, the liquid city, irrigated by an invisible network of veins and arteries, buried, canalised, enclosed, cut off or hidden. The waterways which powered the city’s industrial revolution and carried away its waste and detritus are now forgotten and out of sight. The city’s shiny new buildings turn their backs on the dark river Irwell, or are built over the murky river Irk. New buildings arise along their banks, higher and tighter to them than ever before, deepening and darkening the urban ravines. But, in odd corners of leftover space or at the backs of graffitied warehouse walls, anglers can be spotted, and rowers train, proof that the waters are no longer the same stinking sewage which killed the legendary Mark Addy (a hero of Salford who saved many from drowning) in the

Future skyscrapers rising behind the Victorian Knott Mill

New development on the old BBC site, along side the overgrown Medlock

Selective history: A statue of Engels imported from Russia and placed in Tony Wilson Place, the heart of the new leisure quarter

Dock 2 on the Ship Canal at Pomona Island

The Beetham Tower: from Deansgate Metrolink Station

Space between Castlefield Viaducts

19th century. And out of town, surprising greenspaces open up; grasslands, willow and alder carr, stands of buddleia and balsam; cows ruminate on Mersey meadows, horses graze along the Irk. A strange, unruly rural-urbanity penetrates almost to the heart of the city. Further upstream, experiments in the ‘renaturalisation’ of the Medlock or flood attenuation at Castle Irwell are giving rise to the germs of a new peripheral waterscape which is surely a sign of an alternative future city. Or I would picture Manchester, the interstitial city, of edgelands, social precipices, leftover pockets where transformation has been deemed economically unviable; where clearances, cranes and construction have not prospered. In the lost worlds trapped between abandoned infrastructures; in the chance spaces left between the once and future cities, Manchester’s subcultures live on. The edgy spirit of Factory and Madchester, of the Hulme Crescents and the Moss Side gangs, of Affleck’s Palace and Sankeys Soap, is harnessed as a useful piece of branding. But in the Northern Quarter, in Ancoats, in the central fringes of Salford, in Miles Platting, in damp basements, in half-condemned mills, the improvised bars, cafes, clubs and theatres fight back with a different vision of the future. The ginnels and alleys, run down back streets and corners are the remaining bastions of the old city. And, spreading to the horizon, Manchester, the patchwork city, a sprawling carpet of suburban monotony huddled around the surviving relics of once thriving high streets and centres. Where multiple towns and villages have spread and merged, losing their separate identities in a shared Mancunianity. The recent rural past of iconic neighbourhoods is preserved only in their suggestive place names: Hulme, Moss Side, Salford, Levenshulme, Ordsall… names redolent of the low-lying, boggy wetlands Cows grazing on the banks of the Mersey

F E AT U R E

which once surrounded the pre-industrial township. The newly arrived outsider exploring this strange new habitat experiences a sort of low-rise brick monotone, but, slowly settling into the city, will begin to distinguish the subtle tones and textures, the city’s warp and weft, and to perceive its rhythms and hidden harmonies – or cacophonies. In places, the patchwork gains density and intensity, while in others it thins – barely held together by threads of infrastructure; a shiny new Metrolink tram rumbles through corridors of knotweed; or along rutted streets with tokenistic cycle paths that are parked on and puddled over; or pavements so cut up and dug up by privatised utilities that they have become abstract asphalt murals. And I would conjure up Manchester, the photosynthetic city, where, from a sixth floor office window, a forest canopy dominates the cityscape and blurs into the rising fells of the Pennines. Where is this forest on the ground? In the city centre it is barely visible, a tokenistic presence in a few squares and gardens. But, walk a little. You will find it in the public parks – planned and paid for by the people of a forgotten city, or given to the newly growing city by philanthropic industrialists – which have survived decades of neglect, the age of the car and mass entertainment, as monuments to a bygone age of the commons. Threatened with abandonment and privatisation, they survive on lottery money, volunteer energy and community spirit, and remain hubs of life, accommodating celebrations, exhibitions, performances, park runs and fetes, allotments and scout huts, festivals and punk picnics, footy, cricket and bowls, teenage gropes and sad lost souls. And you will find it in the fertile, fruitful chaos of the allotments; or in the swathes of peripheral wilderness along river corridors and flood plains; the buffer strips along main roads, the parkways and greenways, the remnants of a garden city dream; and the millions of tiny pocket handkerchief gardens, each adding its fragment of glitter to the city’s rich biosphere; the cricket grounds, the golf courses, the football pitches, the expanses of sterile amenity green, which nevertheless absorb, sponge and cool the re-growing city. And, finally, I would come to Manchester, the open city, where a privileged central core is dotted with the products of our profession: the overdesigned and under-maintained public spaces of the city centre, where, nevertheless, you will find the real Manchester. Not in the shiny new towers and office blocks; nor in the culture factories and architectural statements; nor even in the surviving mills and civic buildings; but here, in its Winter mist in Longford Park

Children’s art installation in Chorlton Meadows

Habitat corner of Alexandra Park, Whalley Range

Student tower on Cambridge Street

imperfect public spaces, is where the city meets and recognises itself, reasserts itself, and where visitors come for the ‘Manchester experience’. The civic spaces, the commercial plazas, the peaceful backwaters, the crowded pedestrianized shopping streets, the café and restaurant terraces, the market squares, the canal towpaths, the worn out lawns, the rotting benches, the terraced seating, the fountains and pools, the statues and public art, the stately trees, the cheesy flower beds, the big screens… The spaces which, despite the lack of care, interest and investment, are where city life really happens: on weekday lunchtimes or sunny evenings, shopping sprees or nights out, international festivals and gay pride carnivals, protests and demonstrations, parades and celebrations,

summer fairs and Christmas markets. And, of course, it is in these spaces where the city comes together to recognise its shared cityhood, at moments of triumph, or moments of tragedy, such as after the recent terrorist attacks, when the whole of St Anne’s Square became a sea of flowers. I would write about the many Manchesters, which after all, are just my version of all the cities which we experience, the landscapes which we inhabit and which define us, and which are so much more rich and diverse and colourful than our designed creations. So much more vivid and real than the natural capitals, ecosystem services, public realms and green infrastructures, the multiple catchphrases under which we have buried our real subject matter, the human landscape. Eddy Fox is programme leader for landscape architecture at Manchester Metropolitan University. Photos © Eddy Fox

A sunny day in All Saints Gardens, MMU

Piccadilly Gardens Chinese New Year decorations in Albert Square

ON MY MIND

The award submissions highlight the commitment of landscape architects.

By Jenifer White

The future of heritage Raising the game for conservation projects

Our historic parks and green spaces are key assets in our green Infrastructure. There can be few other heritage assets which continue to be as essential to life in towns and cities. These landscapes have proved durable and adaptable, and are still very much valued by their communities. As everyday features, perhaps the historic significance of these local places is underrated and so too is the original landscape design. Through Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grants we have seen a renaissance of this work over the last 15 years and the awards are a great opportunity to showcase it. The award submissions highlight the commitment of landscape architects in developing these projects, their skills in researching and developing an understanding of the historical context, delivering high quality repairs and new designs, and working with local communities and stakeholders,

The HLF has raised the game for conservation projects and particularly audience development. In turn this is reflected in the high standards of the award submissions and the competition to stand out to be selected as a winner. Each submission has to show how the project has made a difference, how they have involved people, and their long term sustainability. The projects also highlight the important role of local authorities and their landscape officers in generating and steering these projects, even if not specifically acknowledged in submissions. It is great to see the public sector join in submitting their own projects and this year two have been shortlisted for awards. Of course the Landscape Institute itself canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t submit its own projects but I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Institute team on the Capability Brown Festival. The Institute stepped up to take on the leadership and responsibility for the HLF project.

In turn the Institute acknowledges the important role and contribution of John Phibbs, Hal Moggridge, Steffie Shields, Gilly Drummond, and the partner organisations in developing the concept and 2016â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebrations. Through the Festival, the Institute has engaged millions in landscape design. It was a ground breaking initiative and hugely successful. The challenge now is to build on this legacy. We have learnt the power of anniversaries to bring people together, stimulate interest and debate. The Humphry Repton bicentenary next year and the Instituteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own 90th anniversary in 2019 offer further opportunities to get people involved in our profession.

Jenifer White Chair of the LI awards Heritage and Conservation category. National Landscape Adviser, Conservation Department, Historic England.

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Join the LI’s editorial panel As a member of the Landscape Institute Editorial Advisory Panel (EAP), you will offer advice and guidance to the LI during a period of exciting transition for our print and digital communications. You will assist the editor of Landscape – the journal of the Landscape Institute – and the LI staff team in planning and curating content that showcases the very best and latest in landscape practice and thinking. You will help influence and deliver on the LI’s strategic objectives, ensuring its key messages reach a growing and diversifying audience. Strongly connected, with a network of contacts within the industry and beyond, you will be the link between the heart and the voice of the profession.

This post will give you the opportunity to shape the LI’s communications over the next two to four years and, in the process, expand your knowledge and network. The panel is a friendly, welcoming group, and the conversations are always open and stimulating. The EAP meets four times per year, in line with the Landscape editorial calendar, and corresponds digitally in between meetings.

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