It is with great pleasure that we announce Andrew Wilson FLI has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List 2025.
This prestigious accolade recognises Andrew’s exceptional contributions to landscape architecture, garden design, and heritage, affirming his status as a transformative figure in the profession. His work has not only advanced the field but also inspired generations of professionals and students alike.
Andrew’s influence spans decades of visionary leadership. As a Fellow and former Chairman of the Society of Garden Designers (SGD), he has been a steadfast advocate for innovation and excellence. His contributions have shaped professional practice, guided future talent, and elevated the profile of the industry on both national and international stages.
A hallmark of Andrew’s career is his ability to balance creative artistry with a profound understanding of the natural and cultural landscapes he designs. His leadership extends beyond his celebrated design work, encompassing education, mentorship, and thought leadership. He has transformed the garden design curriculum, co-founded the London College of Garden Design, and authored 11 best-selling books that have become indispensable resources for practitioners and students.
Andrew’s collaborations with fellow landscape architect Gavin McWilliam have also been highly influential, producing award-winning projects, including RHS Gold Medal-winning Show Gardens. His role as an RHS judge further underscores his commitment to maintaining the highest standards of design excellence.
Recognised as a Fellow of the Landscape Institute, Andrew’s contributions span the breadth of landscape architecture and garden design. This latest honour, an MBE, is a fitting tribute to his enduring impact on the profession and his dedication to fostering creativity, education, and public engagement.
The award also serves as a broader recognition of the vital role of landscape architecture and garden design in shaping sustainable, biodiverse, and meaningful environments. Andrew’s achievements exemplify how our profession enriches lives, strengthens communities, and nurtures a connection with the natural world.
Andrew said, “I was thrilled and honoured to receive the MBE. This recognition highlights a 40-year career devoted to landscape and garden design but also to teaching within those disciplines in both the private and university higher education sector. From my early teens I pursued a career in landscape architecture only to find myself diversifying later into garden design and teaching. I have enjoyed it immensely, meeting and working with wonderful people along the way. I always sought to inspire my students, to create exciting and uplifting spaces and to support people wanting to enter this career. I hope in some small way the MBE might also serve to inspire, a sense that achievements can be recognised beyond the profession itself.”
On behalf of the Landscape Institute and the wider profession, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Andrew Wilson on this exceptional recognition. His MBE is not only a celebration of his personal accomplishments but also a testament to the transformative power of landscape architecture and garden design.
Adam White FLI PPLI
Convenor (Chair) of the College of Fellows, Landscape Institute
Director, Davies White
