The Landscape Institute (LI) is working with City & Guilds who are delivering these on behalf of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE). T Levels have been developed with employers; employers continue to be involved by reviewing programme content and assessments regularly. This ensures T Level programmes equip learners with the skills and knowledge required to successfully join the workforce within their chosen industry.

There is a new T-Level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production (due September 2023) and C&G are keen to invite our members to join their Employer & Industry Boards to support its development and help shape its future direction.

C&G are in the process of bringing Industry partners/employers together in validating T Level – Grade Standard Exemplification Materials (GSEMs).  This is to support providers (colleges) to standardise the learner’s work.  They will be running validation virtual on-line meetings in July 2023 and then moving onto Employer Set Projects and Occupational Specialism assignments in September 2023. Ornamental and Environmental Horticulture and Landscaping Validation meeting is planned for 18th July 2023 at 4.00pm for one hour.

They are paying £30/hr rate and the GSEMs validations will involve a 1-hour onboarding meeting, up to 2 hours’ worth of reading followed by a 1-hour Teams meeting (the validation meeting).  This is the standard amount of time involved, however if partner/employers want to be involved with more work than they can, but not obligatory.

They are looking for expressions of interests at the moment and then we will move onto on-boarding (involvement details).  Making sure the industry is involved makes sure the assessments are realistic and the candidates are fit to enter the industry and so this is why finding industry members is so important. 

Your involvement in this validation is valuable and also finding a few more people is very much appreciated.

C&G are looking for expressions of interest so please email education@landscapeinstitute.org

For further information on T-Levels please visit https://www.cityandguilds.com/tlevels

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TMLI is a new member grade for landscape practitioners in specialist and support roles. Either a stepping stone towards Chartership or a professional destination in its own right, TMLI allows us to offer resources, support, and training to a much wider range of professionals.

A warm welcome and huge congratulations to all our new TMLIs:

• Joe Ashton
• Hannah Bradley
• Luke Fay
• Orquidea Felgueiras
• Brian Fletcher
• Daniel Gillham
• Crawford Greenfield
• Adam Hay
• Michael Higgins
• Francesca Iribar
• Michel Loftus
• Clara Martinez De Careaga
• Timothy Phillips
• Gary Quilter
• Craig Wilson
• Jack Workman

About the Experienced Route to Technician Membership

The Experienced Route to Technician Membership (E2T) supports experienced professionals from TMLI application to assessment. Our 16 new TMLIs are the first of 50 candidates that we aim to guide towards this new membership grade.

Experienced Route to Technician: Everything you need to know.

The E2T is in addition to the Level 3 Landscape Technician Apprenticeships now underway at Capel Manor College. Both projects are an important part of our wider work to revisit and revise the LI’s entry standards, broaden and upskill our membership, and help our profession become as diverse as the communities we serve.

Comment: Nick Harrison and Mayda Henderson

Chief Assessors Nick Harrison and Mayda Henderson were very pleased that the first phase of the E2T pilot programme was a success.

‘This was a truly rewarding process, for the assessors as well as the candidates,’ said Mayda. ‘As a pilot programme, it was important that we got this right. It was a privilege to be able to support these passionate, skilled individuals and welcome them to their new professional home.’

‘There was such a diverse range of talent in our first TMLI cohort,’ added Nick. ‘Arboriculturists, environmental specialists, graphic designers, operations managers, parks managers, scientists, software developers, technicians, technologists, and more, all doing brilliant work that’s integral to landscape practice. It’s fantastic to welcome these practitioners as LI members, and I look forward to working with the second cohort!’

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Given the urgency of the climate and biodiversity crises, the budget fails to deliver appropriate funding and investment to match the huge challenges faced. There is little additional money for nature, and funding for tackling climate change is mixed.

The government’s focus on technological solutions to climate change is supported by more funding into electric vehicles, hydrogen plants and R&D. However, this focus on technology fails to capture the important role that nature-based solutions can play in tackling both the climate and biodiversity emergencies. Whilst there is some additional funding for nature this stands at around £9m, far below what is required.

That £9m has been pledged for local authorities looking to transform neglected urban spaces, on the condition that they use the funding to create green spaces that increase biodiversity and deliver carbon sequestration. These so-called ‘pocket parks’ are frequently created on small, irregular pieces of land such as vacant building lots. The governments estimates that at least 100 parks should be created by this funding is ambitious, the funding of just £90k per park leaves little for maintenance, innovation and delivery of long-term quality green infrastructure.

Key announcements

Public transport funding

• Cities across England will receive £6.9bn to spend on active transport and public transport projects. £1.5bn of this funding is new.

 Housebuilding

• A multi-year housing settlement, totalling £24bn; £11.5bn towards building 180,000 new affordable homes.
• An extra £1.8bn is being invested to bring 1,500 hectares of brownfield land into use, meet the Gov’s commitment to invest £10bn in new housing and unlock 1m new homes.

Planning

• £65m to digitize England’s planning system

The real win for the landscape sector could be within the realm of skills, where the government has pledged £3.8bn over the parliament in skills funding, which in part is targeted at developing the nation’s green jobs and skills. The budget includes £1.6bn to introduce new T-level courses for those aged 16 to 19, plus £170m for apprenticeships and £550m for reskilling adults. However, a more joined-up strategy is needed, the LI is calling on the government to create a National Green Skills and Jobs Strategy with specific funding for landscape apprenticeships and education.

The LI will continue to work with government to ensure that the policies funded by this most recent budget deliver. Despite a lack of increased investment in nature-based solutions, the delivery of the investment that has been pledged will be vital. Government will need to work with partners to ensure that the Net-Zero Strategy is cohesive and deliverable.

At COP26 next week we will be outlining how the landscape profession can play a key role in driving the net-zero, please follow the COP26 page for updates and if you have any questions about this briefing or our wider work please email: policy@landscapeinstitute.org.

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While the chancellor spoke of the need for ‘a real commitment to green growth’, his latest budget broke little ground on on green issues; though he did say the Bank of England’s monetary policy remit would now ‘reflect the importance of environmental sustainability and the transition to net zero’.

What green measures were announced fall largely into two categories: ways to finance green infrastructure; and funding for new and existing technologies. The budget is disappointing in terms of investment in green infrastructure, natural solutions, and a national retrofit strategy.

• The UK Infrastructure Bank, to be based in Leeds, will fund the ‘green industrial revolution’ across the UK, with an initial capitalisation of £12bn, supporting at least £40bn of infrastructure investment.
• The government will issue the first sovereign green bond (also known as a green gilt) this summer, with a further issuance to follow later in 2021. The green gilt framework will be published in June.

Education and skills

The government has committed to retrain, upskill, and employ the nation’s workforce, particularly young people. Increasing access to learning, apprenticeships, and work experience is vital to addressing the landscape profession’s ongoing skills deficit.

• The government will provide £126m of new funding in England for work placements and training for people aged 16-24 in the 2021-22 academic year.
• The government will extend and increase the payments made to employers in England who hire new apprentices between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021. Companies will receive £3,000 per new hire, compared with £1,500 per new apprentice hire (or £2,000 for those aged 24 and under) under the previous scheme.
• Employers will be invited to bring forward proposals here; in particular the Creative Industries Council, in recognition of the potential benefits for the creative sector of this new approach.
• The government will introduce a points-based visa system by March 2022. This system will include a ‘scaleup’ stream, enabling workers with a job offer from a recognised UK scaleup company to qualify for a fast-track visa. Landscape architects remain on the shortage occupation list and qualify for fast-track applications under the proposed system.
• The government will launch the new Global Business Mobility visa by spring 2022 for overseas businesses to establish a presence in, or transfer staff to, the UK.
• The government will provide practical support to small firms that are using the visa system for the first time.
• The government will modernise the immigration sponsorship system to make it easier to use. A delivery roadmap will be published in the summer.

Transport and infrastructure

The confirmation of the National Infrastructure Bank announced in the November Spending Review is welcome. But it must invest in projects that are not only shovel-ready, but shovel-worthy. The Bank will play a key role in the government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda by encouraging infrastructure projects and attracting investment, and will provide funding that could previously have been secured through the European Investment Bank.

• The government will authorise a new National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) study on towns and regeneration.
• The government will invest £18.8m in local cultural infrastructure projects in Carlisle, Hartlepool, Wakefield and Yeovil.

For more information, please contact the LI policy team at policy@landscapeinstitute.org.

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Every 24 months, the LI asks our members to help shape our forward plan and tell us how we can best support the landscape sector. Between 14 January and 23 February 2021, members will once again have the opportunity to have their say.

The survey covers the period 2019-20: the eventful two-year stretch that saw the LI’s 90th anniversary celebrations, our climate and biodiversity emergency declaration and the publication of our Action Plan, and of course, the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘The last year has been a tremendous challenge for everyone, and we’ve all had to adjust very quickly to life under lockdown,’ said LI President Jane Findlay CMLI.

‘Our core work as a membership body continues. Work continues on our new competency framework and entry standards. The last two years saw the approval of two new landscape apprenticeship standards. And we continue to influence government and collaborate with others to promote a greener recovery and push landscape up the political agenda.

‘But we’ve also made every effort to support members through this difficult time. We launched LI Campus and our new webinar programme, created new business resilience resources through the Firestarter Academy, and have been working more closely with our charity partners Perennial and the Architects Benevolent Society (ABS).

‘We’re keen for our members’ open and honest feedback. What have we done right, and what have we done wrong? What more can we do? How can we do better?

‘We will listen hard and use your insight to shape our future plans.’

‘Your chance to shape the future of your Institute’

‘Our role as a membership organisation has never been more important,’ said LI Chief Executive Dan Cook. ‘We’re very keen to hear what’s most important to our members for the two years ahead.

‘Our digital transformation over the past few years has helped us remain resilient in the face of the COVID-19. We’ve adapted and continued to deliver for members despite these challenges, which look likely to persist for much of this year.

‘It’s still a crucial time for our sector. The climate and biodiversity crises remain the foremost concerns of our age. We want to know what you need from us – be it to help lead the green recovery from COVID-19, revitalise our high streets, attract diverse talent, embed equity and inclusion in your practice, improve your business resilience, or sharpen and retain the skills you need to continue safeguarding people, place and nature, today and for future generations.

‘This is your Institute, and the members’ survey lets you have a formative voice in shaping its future.’

Members have until midnight on Tuesday 23 February 2021 to complete the survey. Everybody who completes the survey will also have the chance to win one of five £50 vouchers to spend at BookShop.org – an ethical online bookseller that supports local independent bookshops.

Check your email

Survey invitations went out on Thursday 14 January. Each member should have received a link to complete the survey, addressed to the primary email address you use to log into My.LI. If you haven’t yet received the email, please let us know at membership@landscapeinstitute.org.

The post LI launches 2019-20 Member Satisfaction Survey first appeared on Landscape Institute.

Since October 2017, the LI has been supporting the landscape employer trailblazer group to deliver landscape apprenticeships in England.

As of November 2020, Level 3 Landscape Technician apprenticeships are now available, with one provider – London’s Capel Manor College – offering online delivery of this new standard.

About the Level 3 Landscape Technician Apprenticeship

This two-year programme leads to a new grade of LI membership: Technician Membership (TMLI). With a funding level agreed at up to £9,000, this standard can be both a destination in itself, and a pathway to the Level 7 (Chartered Landscape Professional) standard.

Approved for delivery in June 2020, this apprenticeship is now published on the Institute for Apprenticeships (IFA) website.

As well as delivery via Capel, the LI is working with other early adopters including Reaseheath College and Myerscough College to begin wider delivery in 2021. We hope to be able to offer a mix of online, blended and in-person learning, with a good geographical spread.

About the Level 7 Chartered Landscape Professional Apprenticeship

The up-to-five-year Chartered Landscape Professional apprenticeship will lead to Chartered Membership of the Landscape Institute (CMLI). Three separate pathways will be available – Landscape Design, Landscape and Parks Management, and Landscape Planning – and the programme may include under- and/or postgraduate LI-accredited degrees.

The standard and assessment plan for this apprenticeship are now approved, and the programme is awaiting funding allocation. We expect it to be ready for delivery in the 2021 academic year.

Education providers we are working with to provide this apprenticeship include Myerscough College, the University of Greenwich, the University of Sheffield, and Reaseheath College.

About the LI’s support for apprenticeships

The LI has worked closely with the Employer Trailblazer Group over the past three years, from facilitating the group’s meetings to supporting its application to government. We have developed the the early adopter network of educators to begin delivery of the apprenticeships, and will act as the end-point assessor for both Level 3 and Level 7 apprentices – providing guidance and support to candidates ahead of sitting either the Pathway to Chartership (P2C) or new Pathway to Technician (P2T) exam.

Next steps

• Working with Level 7 Education providers and the IFA to agree funding bands and delivery mechanisms
• Working closely with Level 3 Education providers and the Trailblazer Group to develop delivery and offer support, including access to existing platforms (such as LI Campus)
• Becoming an End-Point Assessment Organisation
• Researching the market to build knowledge around demand and potential start dates in light of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Scoping out a programme of support for employers

Are you a landscape employer?

See the gov.uk website for more information on apprenticeships, including the Apprenticeship Levy, funding, the benefits of training apprentices, and how to support your young apprentices.

For more information about the landscape apprenticeships programme, please email apprenticeships@landscapeinstitute.org.

The post Landscape apprenticeships: November 2020 update first appeared on Landscape Institute.

Professor Brian Evans

‘”Now you can no longer deny your true calling!” – an email from Fritz Steiner, Dean of Penn Design, when my Fellowship was announced. It matters greatly to me to be welcomed into the landscape profession. It’s like coming home.’

Brian Mark Evans PhD FRTPI FLI FCSD FAcSS FRGS AoU

Brian is Professor of Urbanism and Landscape at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, the Glasgow School of Art and is Glasgow’s first City Urbanist. An advisor to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, from 1990-2015 he was a partner with Gillespies LLP, where he helped to shape the disciplines of landscape planning and urban design and pioneered ecological urbanism. He is a founding Director and Academician of the Academy of Urbanism, London. Brian led the team that re-designed the St. Andrew Square Gardens in Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site, winning the Landscape Institute President’s Award in 2009 and exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy Summer Exhibition the same year.

As an expert Urban Designer, and a disciple of the ecological principles of fellow Scot, Ian McHarg, Brian will play an important role developing the link between the planning and landscape professions. He has already been collaborating with the LI in the lead up to COP26 in Glasgow.

Marian Boswall

‘I am delighted to join such a distinguished group of LI members as a Fellow. I look forward to collaborating across the industry in my focus areas of sustainability and land/health. We can achieve much together!’

Marian Boswall FLI

A board member of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), Marian has been a major high-profile contributor to the wider landscape sector. Her practice, Marian Boswall Landscape Architects, is a leading design practice with a reputation for creating beautiful places, often in historic or sensitive settings.

Marian is an accomplished designer, and her commitment to addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis be welcome as we move forward to implement our action plan.

Mark Gregory

‘Being made a Fellow of the Landscape Institute is a huge honour. I am immensely proud and grateful for this recognition by the Landscape Institute. I have spent my career promoting professionalism and raising standards across all sectors of the landscape industry, and I now look forward to continuing this mission as an FLI.’

Mark Gregory FLI

An expert in landscape design, construction and implementation, Mark is a twenty-time Chelsea Flower Show Gold medal winner at and has won numerous industry awards for projects in London and the South East. His energy, experience and dynamic approach to his work have earned him a reputation for innovation and technical expertise within the landscaping community.

As well as being the founder and managing director of Landform Consultants, Mark is incredibly active in the landscaping and horticultural industries. He is a former board member of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) and has recently been appointed as a Director of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and Chairman of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL). Mark is a regular RHS Judge and Assessor, and a former member of the Chelsea Gardens Panel.

Andrew Wilson

‘At 13 I had focussed on the idea of becoming a landscape architect. To say that I’m thrilled at becoming a Fellow of the Landscape Institute is the understatement of the last half century.’

Andrew Wilson FLI

Andrew is a partner at Wilson McWilliam Studio, and has made a significant contribution to education as a founder of the London College of Garden Design. An award-winning garden and public realm designer, lecturer and writer, he creates exciting and atmospheric gardens and landscapes that combine quality and fine detail with elegant planting design. Based in London and Surrey, Andrew designs both nationally and internationally.

He continues as a director of the London College of Garden Design, lecturing widely in the UK and overseas, and judges show gardens for the RHS.

Nigel Dunnett

‘I’m so excited to be a new “FLI”! It’s a real vindication of my own mission to take every opportunity to promote the case for creative, innovative and transformational planting, and I hope that being a Fellow will enable me to make the case even more strongly, and to support and encourage others to do so.’

Nigel Dunnett FLI

Nigel Dunnett is Professor of Planting and Design and Urban Horticulture at the University of Sheffield’s Department of Landscape Architecture. His work combines and integrates his background and experience in both horticulture and ecology, and focusses generally at the smaller scale: in gardens, urban parks, and on and around buildings and in high-density developments. Nigel’s current teaching comprises planting design, landscape ecology, and ecological design and management.

He is a strong believer in partnerships. As well as a designer in his own right, and a consultant to a wide range of schemes, Nigel is a regular contributor to garden and horticulture magazines, and speaks widely at international horticultural conferences.

Juliet Sargeant

‘The professions that work together to create gardens and landscapes need to be unified in their efforts to promote a better appreciation of said landscapes and their makers. As a garden designer, now ‘long-in-the tooth’, am honoured to have been invited to join the Fellows of the LI; I look forward to close collaboration and a unified effort to introduce more people to our professions.’

Juliet Sargeant MRCP FSGD FLI

Juliet is a garden designer. In 2016, her anti-slavery garden was the first show garden by a female black gardener to be exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show, where it won a gold medal.

Born in Tanzania, Juliet studied garden design at Capel Manor College and Middlesex University. She now runs a garden design consultancy in Brighton, while also writing books such as New Naturalism and lecturing at places such as the KLC School of Design.

Juliet is an active member of the Society of Garden Designers (SGD) and was their vice-chair in 2012. Her background investigating the health and wellbeing benefits of gardening will be a tremendous asset to the LI in the future.

Andrew Halksworth

‘I am delighted that the Landscape Institute is taking the initiative to become the lead organisation in our diverse industry, broadening its remit so as to embrace the varied skills and knowledge of myself and others within its membership and, being stronger, address the huge opportunity that the present and future holds.’

Andrew Halksworth FLI, FRSA

Andrew owns Tendercare Nurseries. He studied at the Architecture School at UCL, specialising in Landscape Architecture and Town Planning, followed by a Masters in Landscape Ecology.

Andrew then worked for many years in development and construction on projects and their environmental impact in sensitive locations. He is one of the country’s foremost designers of tropical plant installations and water features, having been MD of Paul Temple Ltd/Associates and Design Consultant to Water Techniques during the 1980s and 90s era of large atria and shopping mall development in UK.

Andrew’s focus on plant health and biosecurity will be a helpful addition to the profession, as will his understanding of the interface between external and internal environments. He is also a keen supporter of apprenticeships and education to encourage future generations to Choose Landscape.

Nick James

‘I trained as a planner, but since joining LUC almost 30 years ago I’ve been privileged to work on an incredibly wide range of landscape projects – from Cornwall to Shetland, and Cumbria to the Suffolk Coast. Much of my work has focused on the interface between landscape and planning, and I hope my Fellowship of the LI will help me bring the two professions together as we respond to the challenges ahead.’

Nick James BA (Hons) MPhil MRTPI FLI

A Glasgow-based chartered town planner, Nick has extensive experience in strategic planning, policy and research relating to green infrastructure, access and recreation, landscape, community regeneration and the historic environment.

Nick has led a series of ground-breaking green infrastructure projects in areas such as settlement expansion, wind energy development, forestry, climate change and perceptions of landscape change. His work on the historic environment includes the definition of buffer zones to protect Hadrian’s Wall, Stonehenge and the Antonine Wall World Heritage Zones. He led the award-winning Carse of Stirling Ecosystems Approach demonstration project, which pioneered a new, stakeholder-based way of thinking about how land is managed. Nick led a 2015 survey of marine recreation for Marine Scotland, providing new insights into the importance and value of Scottish coasts and seas.

Jo Thompson

‘It is an incredible honour to have this recognition for twenty five years’ work in design and horticulture. I shall use this Fellowship to continue to promote the vital role that outside space, both private and public, both wild and tamed, can play in everybody’s life, and the fact that everyone is entitled to access a place outside – just as the natural world is entitled to everyone’s help to preserve it.’

Jo Thompson FLI

Listed by House and Garden magazine as one of the country’s top ten garden designers, Jo has been the recipient of four Gold and five Silver Gilt medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, as well as the 2017 People’s Choice award at the first RHS Chatsworth Flower Show. She is a member of the RHS Gardens Committee and RHS Show Gardens Selection Panel, and is Garden Advisor for RHS Rosemoor.

Jo lectures both nationally and internationally, and also tutors at The London College of Garden Design. She is a Registered Member of the Society of Garden Designers (SGD). Current projects include The Wedgwood Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019, the design of a new public garden at RHS Rosemoor and most recently a series of restoration garden projects originally designed by Humphry Repton, Nathaniel Lloyd, Vita Sackville-West and Percy Crane.

The post Welcome to the LI’s newest Fellows first appeared on Landscape Institute.

‘Now is the time for landscape professionals to step up and reimagine the urban habitat.’

Birmingham-based landscape architect and practice head Jane Findlay CMLI became the new President of the Landscape Institute on 1 July 2020. Jane will serve in the role for the next two years. She takes over from Adam White FLI, who will serve a final year on the Board of Trustees as the Immediate Past President.

Whether urban, suburban or rural, today’s construction challenges are complex: flood alleviation, carbon reduction, rising populations, tensions between public and private modes of transport, the juxtaposition of community and commerce, and, of course, economic viability. New LI President Jane Findlay believes that finding solutions to these challenges is the domain of the modern landscape professional.

‘More than ever we, as designers, planners and managers of towns and cities, have to face the tension between creating dense and efficient places for people to live in, seen as essential to improving environmental sustainability, against the separating out of populations – which is one of the key tools being used to combat the current COVID-19 pandemic’, Jane said.

‘Now is the time for landscape professionals to step up and reimagine the urban habitat. The pursuit of balance between people, place and nature will gain even greater significance as our populations continue to grow. This will be felt most keenly in our cities.

‘Together we face challenges of stressed infrastructure, pollution, a changing climate, and our evolving healthcare needs: an ageing population, obesity and other physical and mental health issues. Technology will create opportunities that we cannot even conceive of today.

‘Designing healthy places for people. It’s not just an idea… it’s an achievable reality.’

‘Growing evidence of the health benefits derived from access to quality green spaces will see greener architecture as the norm in a biophilic landscape, responding to our need to feel connected with each other and with nature. Natural air conditioning, the green oasis, sustainable transport corridors; it is now essential that we make space for nature in our towns and cities. One of my professional principles is designing healthy places for people. It’s not just a nice idea. It’s an achievable reality.

‘There has never been a time when our expertise and creativity will be as highly valued. As the climate change movement becomes mainstream and sustainability is right at the top of the agenda, and as we all struggle to adapt our towns and cities (such as our work through the High Streets Task Force) to the COVID-19 crisis, we must grasp this opportunity and make a difference.’

A future-focused agenda

Jane campaigned for LI President during 2019 on a platform with a very clear, future-focused agenda. Jane wants to see professionals across the built environment strike a better balance between people, place and nature like the landscape profession always seeks to do.

She intends to work to address key challenges facing the landscape sector, with a strong commitment to promoting the value created by the landscape profession to other professions and the wider world. Her agenda includes:

1. Improving the relevance of the profession

2. Promoting diversity and inclusion in the profession

3. Helping develop digital skills for future success

4. Encouraging the next generation to #chooselandscape

5. Supporting small businesses better

6. Building a strong and supportive LI

Outgoing President Adam White said, ‘I’d like to thank Jane for her support as President Elect over the past 12 months. It has been great getting to know her. Encouraging the next generation to choose landscape is essential for the future of the profession, and I’m delighted one of Jane’s priorities is the #ChooseLandscape campaign.

‘I do hope the “new normal” will allow her to travel and meet the membership. This was a real highlight for me during my first year as President. I’d like to wish Jane the very best of luck and look forward to supporting her as the Immediate Past President.’

Chief Executive Dan Cook said, ‘It’s great to have another new President with experience as a successful employer. Being only our fifth ever female President, it is pleasing to see Jane willing to pick up the mantle on diversity and inclusion. We have more to do to tackle racism and injustice to move us forward as an Institute, profession, and sector.

‘With our work on future of high streets in a post-COVID environment, Jane’s experience designing healthier places will be invaluable in leading the landscape profession out of a lockdown environment.’

About our new LI President

Prior to her election, Jane was active on our Apprenticeship Trailblazer employers group. Professionally, Jane has a real strength in designing for healthy landscapes, a topic that has been pivotal during the past six months as our Institute and profession deals with the challenges of a global pandemic.

Her career highlights include:

• Education Leeds Beckett University (Leeds Polytechnic) undergraduate and postgraduate
• Merseyside County Council – year out
• Percy Thomas Partnership and PTP Landscape – landscape architect to director in 1995
• Fira – In 1997 PTP Landscape amicably separated from PTP to become Fira under the guidance of founding directors Jane Findlay and Sue Radley

You can meet Jane in her welcome webinar as President, and hear her vision for inspiring our sector to step up and reimagine the urban habitat.

Book now for the next LI Webinar: Meet the President (Tuesday 14 June, 11.00am)

Read more about Jane in the latest edition of the LI Journal

Thanks to outgoing President Adam White PPLI FLI

Jane thanked Adam during our Presidential handover event on 30 June for his service and dedication as President of the Landscape Institute.

Jane praised Adam as a fantastic ambassador for our profession, who has made the LI the most visible it has been to members. Adam has worked tirelessly to engage with members and to collaborate by building important relationships with influencers in associated industries and professions. Jane also praised Adam’s engagement with younger members of our profession, to enthuse them and encourage them to participate in the landscape community.

In his time as President, Adam has been witness to some monumental changes in the world we live in, including the climate crisis and biodiversity emergency and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Major highlights from Adam’s presidency include:

• Launching our #chooselandscape careers campaign in 2018
• Awarding the LI Medal for Lifetime Achievement to Sir David Attenborough at the November 2019 LI Awards ceremony
• Leading the LI in its declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency in June 2019, and delivering its action plan in May 2020

Dan Cook paid further tribute to Adam on behalf of the whole LI team, complimenting his work on improving our Awards, his active use of social media, and his advocation for building and broadening the profession.

Adam also lifted the LI’s profile internationally, engaging regularly with landscape issues and organisations on a global stage and, in our 90th anniversary year, taking a leading role alongside his business partner Andree Davies, working with the Duchess of Cambridge to create the Back to Nature Garden.

The post Midlands-based landscape leader Jane Findlay takes on LI presidency first appeared on Landscape Institute.