News
Landscape's bright future approaches
22nd February 2006
The Landscape Institute has welcomed the Government's decision to sign the European Landscape Convention yesterday (21 February).
"The Convention echoes many of the Institute's core objectives," said LI director general, Marion Bowman. "We have long promoted the value and importance of landscapes and the need to ensure everyone's right to enjoy well-designed and maintained landscapes and public spaces."
"Once the Convention is ratified by Parliament, it will provide a strong focus for promoting policy on landscape within the UK, and for ensuring the UK's strong track record influences future developments throughout Europe."
Britain is undergoing a revival of interest in landscape, from the creation of new National Parks to the regeneration of public parks and squares. "National Parks and city parks are great British inventions, created in large part by landscape architects," said Marion, "so the Convention can only strengthen the LI's efforts to ensure continuing investment in these vital elements of national life."
Keith Rowe, chair of the LI's Professional Practice Committee, said: "The Convention is an important recognition of the need to protect landscapes in law and to develop policies to ensure greater consistency of approach. We need to work harder to achieve better standards across all landscapes - the everyday and degraded, not just the outstanding and iconic.
"Landscape architects lead on seeing design and regeneration in both environmental and economic contexts and we will be taking an active part in the implementation of the Convention," continued Keith. "A first step by the Government should be to launch the national competition for excellence in landscapes which the Convention calls for - what better way to encourage a new public debate and involvement as well as the achievement of the highest standards in an area where the UK has a proud history?"
The Technical and Environment Committee welcomed the news too: "We are delighted that the Government has signed the European Landscape Convention. This is an important step to ensure that the diverse character of all landscape, irrespective of special designation, is reinforced in the pursuit of sustainable development recognising that landscape is fundamental to our well-being and intrinsic to the unique and special culture of our communities."
The European Landscape Convention was opened for signature in October 2000 and has now been implemented by 20 Member States of the Council of Europe and a further 13 are awaiting ratification. It incorporates a range of issues relating to landscape including the representation of different cultures and adopting a consistent approach to landscape while ensuring that all landscapes are treated to best benefit their unique circumstances and surroundings.
The UK and the Landscape Institute already recognises landscapes in law and has comprehensive policies. In recent years there has been a focus to encourage public participation and a higher awareness of the relationship between landscape and environment.
"Signing the Convention should greatly improve and accelerate all landscape related activity. It couldn't be better news," concluded Marion.
