Following our AGM on Sept 5, we’re excited to welcome 3 new Trustees to the LRG Board: saida hammami, Charlotte L McLean & Charlotte Veal. We’re also pleased to confirm the re-election of Gillian Lawson and @ianmell.bsky.social 👉 Learn about our new Trustees: landscaperesearch.org/new-trustees...

dirt.asla.org/2025/08/03/s... - managing public space and safety via better green space design.

A survey from the RTPI and YouGov reveals that the UK public has serious doubts about whether the next generation of new towns will meet future needs. These findings echo recommendations in RTPI’s Futureproof New Towns interim report: www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/au...

localpartnerships.gov.uk/vacancies/as... localpartnerships.gov.uk/vacancies/pr...

Do you have a passion for helping to create healthy, sustainable & resilient places that are fair for everyone? Vacancy: Osborn Research Assistant. This role works on a range of TCPA projects, with an emphasis on large-scale new communities. Deadline: Mon 1 Sept www.tcpa.org.uk/osborn-resea...

Growing up and attending school surrounded by trees can make a significant difference in the development of our children. Studies have found that trees can: 📝 Improve test scores 🚫 Reduce behavioural issues 😁 Decrease the risk of depression 🧠 Improve cognitive development

Free webinar: Tackling health inequalities through green & blue infrastructure (23 Oct) Prof Ben Wheeler & Dr Mark Ferguson will discuss opportunities/risks for planners when integrating greenspace & the benefits of a systems approach. Plus a Dorset Council case study www.tcpa.org.uk/event/tackli...

Further detail available on Policy@Manchester's website: www.policy.manchester.ac.uk/events/upcom... @ianmell.bsky.social @educationuom.bsky.social @uomhums.bsky.social

At this year's Labour Party Conf, among the @manchester.ac.uk expert panellists we are pleased to see: Ian Mell, Professor in Environmental & Landscape Planning discussing housing and infrastructure Caroline Bond, Professor of Educational Psychology discussing school absence #UKPolicy #PPEM #MIE

www.placenorthwest.co.uk/manchester-g... On paper this looks good - some of the rhetoric is a little OTT but that’s what you expect. It remains to be seen what they cost and who can afford to like their (including the 20% affordable). Also what will the impact be in Mayfield during construction

Join the Office of Green Infrastructure! We're hiring a Director of Green Infrastructure. Visit boston.gov/jobs and apply today!

Reminder: LRG Board Nominations Close Soon! There’s still time to put yourself forward to join the Landscape Research Group’s Board of Trustees in 2025. Deadline for nominations: 3 August 2025 (this Sunday!) Find out more and apply via our website landscaperesearch.org/trustee-oppo...

It’s really good to see this out - Some thoughts on grey/green belt for the Landscape Institute journal. Lots to consider with the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. How do we ensure that nature is essential infrastructure and change the rhetoric from build build build - to development with nature

I’m very not been in the Olympic park in London for a while but the phased residential and development of new GI and urban nature seems to be working well. New neighbourhoods, a vibrant atmosphere and a people centred approach to design.

Some great news for Planning, Property & Environmental Management at Manchester. Phil Black and colleagues have been nominated for the RTPI Patsy Healey Award for Academic Excellence. We were also nominated via the Rural Planning Futures book led by Mark Scott www.rtpi.org.uk/events-train...

Blackheath and Greenwich looking more like a Savanna than a Common and Park on this hot London day! But #GreenInfrastructure providing "more than human" urban cooling benefits and interesting to see drought resistance of non-cut vs cut!

We’re excited to announce that LRG is partnering with the School of Landscape Architecture at Beijing Forestry University (BFU) to co-host the 2025 International Landscape Architecture Symposium (ILAS). Call for Abstracts -- 15 August 2025 More info & submissions: landscaperesearch.org/ilas2025

I was talking to a friend about proportionality and biodiversity the other day. They have a wildlife focussed garden and it’s great but we discussed is it enough if not everyone is going the same. Here at work we’re doing small interventions. But how can we scale these up to ensure we get it right?

I was in Cambridge the other day and saw this building site. It used to be - I think - a timber merchants. So will it be big enough to be a neighbourhood and if your baseline for biodiversity was potentially 0% is that 280% increase meaningful. It so high density though so that’s good

We're delighted to see our letter published in The Guardian last week! Read it here: tr.ee/guardian-let... "Council budgets have fallen and there is no national strategy for green spaces, despite the huge benefits they offer, writes Ed Stannard."

I’ll be taking part in this event next week - if you’re interested in how green infrastructure can help create sustainable communities: How can we build infrastructure fit for the future? This might be for you. events.manchester.ac.uk/event/event:...

I’ve just been on the castlefield viaduct for the first time in a while and it’s growing on me. Maybe it was the drizzle and mix of green and industrial architecture that lightened my mood. It could work as a connective route but is it a park. Lots for the National Trust to consider.

www.gov.scot/news/new-nat... This is a really interesting outcome. Whilst conservation and landscape protection are critical there are always downsides. It’s good that they had a consultation and have listened - is a 54/46 split sufficient though to show deeper meanings regarding the environment?

London has any number of flaws - housing, costs, jobs, wages but it does know how to do green infrastructure. Yes I know it’s high end GI but on a sunny day it looks splendid and is a nice walk to the Camley Street Nature Reserve. The GLA have looked to maximise space I for nature and it works

It’s now a month until the oasis gigs but the fences (and there are a lot of fences) won’t be taken down just to be put up again. So that’s 2 months of partial use. Also it’ll be very interesting to see if the city council enforce the remediation works to get the park back up to scratch…

Parklife has been in this weekend and it seems to have gone off without any problems. The whole thing though does place a lot of restrictions on residents (including me) so it’s good to see this fund in place. However, none of these project support those continuities around the park directly

The fourth edition of the @lunz-hub.bsky.social Hub Newsletter is now available to read. Subscribe for updates on activities, events, and publications from the Hub community for Spring 2025. View the Newsletter here ➡️ bit.ly/3QJTmOf Subscribe to the Newsletter here ➡️ bit.ly/4bp3zsK #LUNZHub

📢 To celebrate the release of C.P. Pow: Selected Essays (2025), USF will dedicate one 2025 International Fellowship in his memory — for an urban scholar from or working in East & Southeast Asia. 🔗 Learn more: ow.ly/u7KN50VOxlH

We’re delighted to welcome distinguished economist and politician Elisa Ferreira to the Department of Planning, Property and Environmental Management as an Honorary Professor. A series of events and activities will coincide with Professor Ferreira’s upcoming visit this November.

www.theguardian.com/environment/... - yep sensible commentary here about the role of Natural England and their role in safeguarding nature and offering constructive advice. They are stoping development - just asking that poor quality development is improved.

bills.parliament.uk/bills/3819 This is interesting but aren’t some of these action/guidance roles already done by Natural England and Defra - will this just add another level of bureaucracy that will then be overruled by government in the UK?

x.com/mell_giplann... this is a really important conversation and one that gets focussed predominately on London. This is an issue all over. In fact I’ve just marked a student essay talking about this issue in temple newsam in Leeds. There is a wider discussion of this issue throughout the uk.

Sadiq Khan to announce plans to build houses on London green belt - this will cause uproar. The argument for using low ecological/social value green space is logical - as this is not parks or public green space. It does need thinking through though. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

UCD Planning School would like to congratulate Mark Scott @markscott-ucd.bsky.social and other contributors (John Sturzaker, Nick Gallent, Gavin Parker, Amy Burnett, Ian Mell) in collaboration with @rtpiplanners.bsky.social, for their valuable contribution to rural planning. Well done.

I really enjoyed presenting about how green space design travels between geographies and culture in east and southeast Asia yesterday at the @ihrlibrary.bsky.social History of Gardens and Designed Landscapes seminar - some great questions and a lovely crowd. www.history.ac.uk/seminar/hist...

Very excited to receive this in the post today - working with the @rtpiplanners.bsky.social myself John Sturzaker, Mark Scott, Nick Gallent, Gavin Parker and Amy Burnett have considered with the future holds for rural planning in the UK and Ireland - well worth checking out

🗺️ Report out: Land Management in the Cairngorms Surveying 18 landholdings across nearly 40% of the Park, we explore how land managers are blending tradition with innovation—farming, forestry, conservation, tourism, and more. 🔗 Read the full report: www.clr.conservation.cam.ac.uk/projects/cai...

Trump admin throws pivotal climate assessment into limbo, raises possibility of an alternative climate science report, or just none at all despite it being congressionally mandated. www.cnn.com/2025/04/29/c... W/ input from @meadekrosby.bsky.social @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social

How can land value capture policies contribute to the Gov's house building plans and help fund affordable housing and public infrastructure? Dr Sotirios Thanos, Dr Eero Valtonen, and Prof Anupam Nanda have provided evidence to the Housing, Communities & Local Government Committee inquiry.

The UK government's Nature Restoration Fund will change habitat regulations with the aim to balance nature and economic growth and 'get Britain building again'. Professor Graham Haughton and Dr Ian Thornhill highlight a cautious welcome for the fund - via @theconversation.com #NatureRestoration

Supported by LGA Peer Challenges, Bury Council has made substantial improvements in governance, performance, and engagement. Here's a case study to explain how they did it: https://orlo.uk/kTIqW #LocalGov #LGAPeerChallenge #PeerSupport #BuryCouncil #Bury

We also have an additional role in real estate being advertised to compliment our current team - details in the description. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DME316/l...

If youre working on transport planning and fancy a new challenge then there are still a couple of weeks to apply for our exciting new lectureship. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DME498/l...

There is still time to apply for this great new job in nature recovery here at Manchester. All the details are in the add www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DME062/l...

This Thursday I'll be giving a talk about traditional/contemporary green space and parks design use in easter and southeast Asia for the Institute of Historical Research (IHR) - you can come in person (6pm Senate House, UoL) or register online - see below www.history.ac.uk/events/motif...

When looking at these two photos of Seattle's waterfront, it's clear that most people prefer the bottom one. So why don't we remove more highways to create spaces for people? (1) State DOTs prioritize thoroughfares over places and (2) City leaders lack imagination and political courage. What else?

📣 USF International Fellowships 2025 - apply now! This fully-funded program offers 3-9 month sabbatical research visits for urban scholars from the Global South. Read more & apply here: urbanstudiesfoundation.org/funding/inte... Deadline 16th July 2025

Apply now for a four year Research Fellowship at Kew. £41,020 per annum Closing Date 20/04/2025 opportunity to become an independent researcher with some startup funds for research and travel. careers.kew.org/internal/vac...

The latest title in the Routledge @rtpiplanners.bsky.social RTPI Library book series is Rural Planning Futures edited by @markscott-ucd.bsky.social John Sturzaker Nick Gallent @gavinparker.bsky.social Amy Burnett & @ianmell.bsky.social www.routledge.com/RTPI-Library...