Landscape

Landscape Architect, Landscape Manager, Landscape Planner, Landscape Designer, Landscape Scientist, Horticulturist – Amenity and Commercial, Gardener

The Sector
The landscape sector embraces many specialists, such as landscape architects, horticulturalists, gardeners and ecologists. Careers in the sector include work with specific land-uses (such as gardens, parks, golf course and wildlife sites); strategic planning and policy; urban regeneration; countryside conservation; new design; heritage landscapes; and public, private and voluntary organisations. The landscape sector works closely with other professionals such as planning, architecture and engineering.

Specialisation and diversity increasingly characterise the profession, with different disciplines and subsets such as landscape planning, architecture, design and managing. Exciting opportunities also exist in the growing areas of urban design, environmental art, landscape archaeology and private estate design.

Sector Profile
As this sector is diverse, there are no overall employment figures. The Landscape Institute, a professional body for landscape practitioners, has 4,500 members, of whom half work in the public sector and half work in private practice, commerce and industry. The number of landscape courses offered reflects the growth in this sector over the last 25 years.

Issues and Trends
Urban regeneration is one of the government’s priorities and the landscape professions have a key role to play in this through planning, design and maintenance. Specific charities and agencies have been set up to champion and co-ordinate green spaces, including the Heritage Lottery Fund Urban Parks Programme, which has been the catalyst for many public park restorations.

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