News Archive

What will become of the landscape in 2050? – University of Reading

As the south east loses its green lawns to high temperatures and drought orders, coast-dwellers in Norfolk prepare for unusually high tides and Scotland is predicted a wetter climate, the University of Reading and the Landscape Institute have arranged a conference to look at the future of our landscape on the 21 September. Landscape 2050 takes place at the University's impressive John Madejski Theatre. It aims to look at a number of issues, including whether or not people in the UK are ready to change their minds about their preferred image of the countryside, as quickly as we alter our world. The conference will also look at the countryside back in the early sixties and the changes that have occurred since then, and the urban and rural policy in which landscape professionals must operate. "Climate change is already having an effect on the world's landscapes," said Nigel Thorne, president of the Landscape Institute and chair of the conference. "People think that landscapes are just there, but many factors shape landscapes. Climate is one, as is the impact of human habitation and those that design and manage the land. "It's important that landscape professionals understand the changes – both probable and possible – in order to work with them, not against them and the conference aims to bring people together to discuss ideas and take them forward." Richard Bisgrove, a senior lecturer in landscape management at the University of Reading will be opening the event, and speakers include Peter Neal of CABE Space, Simon Thornton-Wood from the Royal Horticultural Society and Tony Kendle from the Eden Project. -ends- -2- The conference will run on 21 September at the John Madejski Lecture Theatre, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading from 9.15 until 5pm. To underline the commitment to the environment the event is Carbon Neutral and money has been put into recommended projects to offset the impact the event will have on the planet. -ends- Media contact: Dawn Barnes / Marco Forgione T: 020 7299 4537 E: DawnB@landscapeinstitute.org or MarcoF@landscapeinstitute.org Notes to Editors: The Landscape Institute is the chartered professional body for landscape architects in the UK; it was founded in 1929 and was awarded a Royal Charter of incorporation in 1997. The Institute works to maintain and improve high professional standards through education and development and to protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built environment for the benefit of the public by promoting the arts and sciences of landscape architecture. For further information visit the website The Conference 1. The conference will take place on 21 September 2006 in the John Madejski Lecture Theatre, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading 2. The conference has been organised by the Landscape Institute in partnership with the University of Reading