Landscape Institute’s Jellicoe Lecture at The Botanics

On 1 November (this Thursday), the Landscape Institute is hosting the annual Jellicoe Lecture, a free event designed to inspire leadership within the landscape profession, at Edinburgh’s iconic Royal Botanic Garden.

The lecture will include a panel of global leaders and young luminaries in the fields of landscape and sustainability helping to inspire the next generation of landscape professionals.

In celebration of Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018 (YoYP 2018) the lecture provides a platform for those in Scotland aged 8 to 26 to speak on issues that affect their lives, showcase their talents, and foster a positive perception of the future generation. The Landscape Institute aims to promote the landscape profession by encouraging leading professionals to inspire young people to consider how they can shape their environment.

This year, speakers will include Dr Fiona Stirling (pictured, top), the Senior Placemaking Adviser for Scottish Natural Heritage, who specialises in green infrastructure, landscape planning and place-making.

Also speaking is Mahmoud Al Burai (above), currently serving as the CEO of Dubai Real Estate Institute. Since 2015 he has chaired the UN Global Compact UAE and sits on the UN sustainable Development Goal 11 Global Council. He has started youth ambassadors programmes in seven UAE universities, and has led the establishment of the Women’s Empowerment Principles in the UAE, bringing sustainability to ever wider audiences.

We will also be celebrating the work of Edinburgh College of Arts’ School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture (ESALA). Work from five female students Yifan Hu, Emily Cropton, Molly Gordon, Marta Gioffre and Theoni Zompola won them the International Schools prize at the recent Landscape Biennial in Barcelona. Leading academics Elinor Scarth, Lisa Mackenzie & former student Emily Cropton, will showcase the school’s achievements.

Previous speakers include Pam Warhurst (founder of Incredible Edible Todmorden) Steven Hargreaves (designer of the Olympic Park), Dominic Cole (designer of the Eden Project), Robert Townshend (lead designer for Kings Cross) and James Corner (designer of the New York Highline).

Dan Cook, CEO of the Landscape Institute, said: “This annual lecture honours Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe who died in July 1996, who is the perfect representative of the landscape profession. Not only was he involved in town planning, but also was an architect, landscape architect, garden designer, lecturer and author, as well as a founding member of the Landscape Institute in 1929 and its President from 1939 to 1949. It is part of his legacy that this year’s event will be celebrating the diversity of this profession. 

We have a very active branch in Scotland, led by local Chair Rachel Tennant, who have been very active in promoting the work of our profession in Scotland to future generations in this Year of Young People. 

“We want to encourage more people to be aware of the responsibility landscape professionals have in creating environments for people in which to live, work and enjoy.”

Back in June, LI President, Adam White spoke at the Central Scotland Green Network Forum in Glasgow. He met a number of inspirational young people involved in Reroute, a project being delivered by the charity Young Scot in collaboration with Scottish Natural Heritage, which aims to reconnect young people with nature.

In September he was back in Scotland to give a lecture at The University of Edinburgh University about the value of engaging young people in the design process. Promoting the landscape profession to a new generation has been a priority for Adam since becoming President of the Landscape Institute earlier in the year.

Adam White FLI, LI President, said: “It is vital we tackle the growing skills gap and inspire and encourage more young people to choose a career in landscape by working together across this exciting profession. The Landscape Institute’s new campaign, #ChooseLandscape, is a step in the right direction. Since its launch in July 2018 it has attracted interest from across the country and around the world.

“The Jellicoe lecture is the perfect opportunity to share the latest stories from the campaign and encourage more landscape professionals to think about how and why they can help inspire future generations.

“This event will highlight the range of job opportunities in the landscape profession from science enthusiasts wanting to tackle climate change, to those who love using the latest digital technology – all interests and skills are needed in this profession and we are here to support and encourage that. I am delighted the lecture is taking place at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and I look forward to seeing you there.”

The event runs from 5:00pm – 9:00pm on Thursday 1 November 2018.

For free tickets, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jellicoe-tickets-50731165281

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davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer