Led by the teams behind Sheffield’s urban greening schemes, the tours will offer a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how public planting, landscape innovation and sustainability are transforming the post-industrial cityscape.
Tours will take place on the first day of the two-day symposium, which aims to bringing together leading voices from across garden and landscape design, art, ecology and urban planning to explore the theme: Extreme! Designing Sustainably for a Changing Climate. Held at Sheffield City Hall on the 17th–18th of October, the event will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions, and presentations from respected practitioners including Nigel Dunnett, Tom Massey, Loretta Bosence, Graham Dillamore, Haruko Seki, Jihae Hwang and John Little.
According to the SGLD, symposium delegates will visit key sites of green infrastructure and public realm transformation, including the acclaimed Grey to Green corridor — a pioneering example of climate-adapted urban design — and The Green Estate, where they will explore the impact of Pictorial Meadows, a visionary approach to planting design and long-term public space stewardship that is influencing landscapes across the UK.
Tour guides include: Professor Nigel Dunnett of the University of Sheffield; Simon Ogden Former Head of City Regeneration at Sheffield City Council; Will Tomson of Creative Cultivation; Zac Tudor Associate Director for Landscape Architecture at Arup; Owen Hayman Horticulture Innovation Manager at The Green Estate CIC & Pictorial Meadows.
“As designers, we are constantly searching for ways to create landscapes that are both beautiful and resilient. Sheffield offers a powerful example of how bold thinking, collaboration, and long-term care can completely reimagine urban space. We’re thrilled to bring our members here to learn from the people who made it happen,” said Andrew Duff MSGLD, Chair of the SGLD.
