News

UK Signs Up

28th March 2006

The Government has signed the European Landscape Convention, a move that has been warmly welcomed by the Landscape Institute.

Marion Bowman, director general of the LI, said: “The Convention echoes many of the Institute’s core objectives. 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 places.”

She continued: “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. Signing the Convention should greatly improve and accelerate all landscape-related activity. It couldn’t be better news.”

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 Government’s decision to sign the Convention has received praise from a huge number of landscape-oriented and environmental organisations.