My Life in Landscape: Rosie Whicheloe

We asked eleven landscape professionals, all at different stages in their careers, to tell us what inspired them to follow a career in landscape.

Rosie is a landscape ecologist at the London Wildlife Trust. She took a BA Hons in Landscape Architecture at Greenwich University and an MSc in Land Reclamation and Restoration at Cranfield University.

What inspired you to study to become a landscape professional?

It was luck initially. After A-levels I was looking for a course at university that played to my strengths (in art and design) but combined with my love for geography. One day I just happened upon a page about landscape architecture. It sounded like an interesting, worthwhile and creative profession. I also had a light-bulb moment; walking through an ancient woodland in spring, I was struck by the ‘natural’ beauty that surrounded me. This sparked my passion in studying landscapes from an ecological perspective and has influenced my career path ever since.

How did you train, what sort of work experience did you have?

Being active in practical nature conservation is where I first really appreciated landscape character, native plant communities and habitat management. I had a few lucky breaks – a series of short-term contracts in botanical surveying and landscape planning, before getting my first ecological consultancy role. I decided to do my masters (about ten years after my BA), having taken the advice of a Greenwich lecturer, to go back only when you really had something you wanted to study. For me that was landscape ecology and restoration.

What projects are you working on at the moment?

At the London Wildlife Trust I will be providing landscape ecological advice for new housing schemes. Previously at The Ecology Consultancy I worked on a green grid strategy for a Business Improvement District and a review of nature conservation sites for a London borough. I am a big advocate for sharing knowledge and where I can, try to facilitate communication between different organisations and professions. I believe we are stronger and more effective if we understand and help each other.

What trends do you predict for your industry in the next few years?

There are a lot of buzz words flying around at the moment and it is all a bit confusing, but positive things are happening. New tools (such as biodiversity ‘no net loss’ and ‘ net gain’ projects and natural capital projects) are being tested, and this is helping to deliver real benefit and communicate the value of landscapes to wider audiences. Company corporate social responsibilities are also having a huge influence, driving positive change to business operations, and to keep up with their competitors. It’s a challenging but rewarding time.

Why is the landscape profession so important to the future of society and the environment?

Would it not be more helpful to ask: how are we managing to influence or educate other professions? Or what tips would you give to help those just starting out? My answer to the last question would be: Attend as many multi-disciplinary events as possible, get to know other professions, learn their language and find out what really matters to them. You may find some useful allies.