The need for multidisciplinary collaboration was one of the leading threads throughout Pro Landscaper’s Future of Commercial Landscaping conference in association with .
Working in partnership was repeatedly raised by speakers and panellists as the answer to achieving the potential of biodiversity net gain and other environmental goals as well as tackling the skills shortage.
The conference – held on 6 June at the NEC in Birmingham – featured an introduction into biodiversity net gain from Barratt Development’s Helen Nyul. Real estate investor and developer Phil Haddleton of BGO then gave a different perspective and how green infrastructure is becoming increasingly important in the economic landscape. A panel discussion between Nyul, Nicholsons’ Liz Nicholson, Jonathan Berry of Tyler Grange and WSP’s Kate Slegg-Newton brought these themes together.
In the second session, Chris Wellbelove of Blakedown Landscapes shared insights into the challenges and successes of a recent commercial project, followed by a panel discussion between Frost Landscapes’ Alistair Bayford, Adam Dunnett of Hillier Nurseries, Max Aughton from Studio Egret West and Peabody Trusts’ Elizabeth Connelly on planting and some of the key considerations around this. Fiona Mason on Pinsent Mason closed with a legal perspective of putting biodiversity net gain into practice.
A tender-focused panel took place between Sam Jones of The Green Partnership, Tivoli’s Robert Cunliffe and Ruth Lin Holmes of the London Legacy Development Corporation before Arup’s Lise Benningen delved into the Landscape and Carbon report from the Landscape Institute and the British Association of Landscape Industries. Carolyn Irwin of Brands2Life then gave a masterclass in storytelling and the benefit in doing so.
The final panel discussion focused on attracting and retaining the right people. Berry returned to the stage alongside Green-tech’s Richard Gill and Lucy Clarke of Fixed Construction.
“It was great to be able to bring so many stakeholders together to help facilitate conversations that need to happen,” says David Griffiths, divisional director of event organiser Eljays44. “What was even more encouraging was the clear appetite for better collaboration, which through hosting this event we were able to initiate connections that can enable this.”