Chaired by Errol Reuben Fernandes, Head of Horticulture at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, the SGLD Symposium titled “Extreme! Designing Sustainably for a Changing Climate” will be held from October 17th to 18th, 2025.
Reuben Fernandes has a diverse background, including fine art, curation, psychotherapy, and botanical training. Notably, he has spearheaded several innovative initiatives at the Horniman, including the establishment of a Micro-Forest comprising 900 trees and a Xerophytic (drought-tolerant) display of plants originating from Mediterranean climatic regions.
Through a programme of presentations, panel discussions and guided tours, delegates will learn how to mitigate the adverse effects of our changing climate, whether at a garden, landscape or wider community level, while also focusing on sustainable processes and materials.
Professor Nigel Dunnett, a leading voice on innovative approaches to planting design, who helped create some of Sheffield’s pioneering urban regeneration projects, has been secured as the keynote speaker. He will be joined by panellists and speakers such as: landscape designer, author and presenter Tom Massey MSGLD; horticulturist, designer and author Alys Fowler; sustainable materials pioneer Loretta Bosence of Local Works Studio; ecological gardener John Little; and the South Korean ecological designer and RHS Chelsea medal winner Jihae Hwang. Panel discussions will cover themes such as ‘adapting landscapes to extreme weather events’, ‘designing with nature’ and ’embedding sustainability in both process and practice’.
The seminar takes place at the iconic, Grade II* listed City Hall in the heart Sheffield – one of the UK’s most exciting cities for urban regeneration and landscape innovation. Guided tours of the city’s public spaces and community-interest projects, include the Grey to Green scheme, Park Hill and Manor Fields Park and Pictorial Meadows headquarters (part of The Green Estate). Tours will be led by key members of the design and delivery team including Nigel Dunnett of Sheffield University; Zac Tudor, Landscape Architect at Arup Sheffield; Owen Hayman, Horticulture Innovation manager at Pictorial Meadows; and Will Tomson, director at Sheffield-based design studio Creative Cultivation.
“Our members, and other professionals in our field, are increasingly finding themselves at the forefront of environmental stewardship. The SGLD’s dynamic two-day Symposium will bring together leading figures in sustainable landscape design, horticulture and urban regeneration from across the globe to provide perspective and insight into this critical issue, and explain how designers can play a pivotal role in addressing climate change. Whether you’re a seasoned designer, emerging practitioner, educator, policymaker, or student, this event offers an exceptional opportunity to deepen your knowledge, expand your network, and be part of a growing movement towards climate-positive,” said the Chair of the Society, Andrew Duff MSGLD.
