SGLD Autumn event tackles climate design challenges
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Errol Reuben Fernandes - SGLD Symposium Chair.
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Grey to Green, Sheffield city centre
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Pictorial Meadows, The Green Estate
The Society of Garden + Landscape Designers (SGLD) will host a major two-day symposium this autumn titled Extreme! Designing Sustainably for a Changing Climate, taking place at Sheffield City Hall from 17–18 October 2025. Designed to address one of the most pressing issues of our time, the symposium will explore how landscape professionals can design and deliver beautiful, climate-resilient gardens and public spaces in the face of increasing environmental challenges.
Chaired by Errol Reuben Fernandes, Head of Horticulture at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, the symposium will blend expert talks, engaging panel discussions, and site tours. Fernandes brings a multidisciplinary perspective to the role, with a background in fine art and psychotherapy alongside botanical training. His recent projects—such as the installation of a 900-tree micro-forest and a Mediterranean xerophytic plant collection—exemplify the kind of forward-thinking, sustainable horticulture the symposium aims to promote.
The speaker line-up features some of the most influential names in landscape design and ecology. Keynote speaker Professor Nigel Dunnett—known globally for his urban regeneration work and nature-based planting design—will headline the event. Other confirmed speakers and panellists include Tom Massey MSGLD, Alys Fowler, Haruko Seki, John Little, Loretta Bosence, Graham Dillamore, and Jihae Hwang, among others. Topics will range from managing extreme weather through landscape, to integrating sustainability into every stage of design and delivery.
Panel discussions will address the realities of climate change on the ground, offering insights into how designers can adapt their planting choices, materials, and construction methods to build long-term resilience. Sessions such as Designing with Nature and Adapting to Extreme Weather Events will challenge conventional practices and highlight real-world solutions that put environmental stewardship front and centre.
Choosing Sheffield as the symposium's location marks a deliberate shift from the typical London-centric model. The city, known for its pioneering work in urban greening, will serve as both host and case study. Attendees will be offered guided tours of innovative projects like the award-winning Grey to Green corridor, Manor Fields Park, and Park Hill, which all demonstrate how landscape design can transform urban areas into climate-adaptive, people-friendly spaces.
A tour of the Pictorial Meadows headquarters—part of The Green Estate—will give delegates the chance to experience sustainable meadow-style planting and long-term stewardship in action. Led by experts including Nigel Dunnett, Owen Hayman, Zac Tudor, and Will Tomson, the tour will provide practical insights into establishing vibrant, low-maintenance, biodiversity-rich landscapes in urban settings.
The symposium will also include a networking reception on the evening of 17 October, with a keynote address by ecological gardener John Little. Trade stands from SGLD Affiliated Business Partners and selected eco-conscious suppliers will be available throughout the event, offering delegates the chance to discover new products, materials and services that align with sustainable design goals.
Andrew Duff MSGLD, Chair of the SGLD, said: “Landscape designers are on the frontline of climate adaptation. This symposium will bring together global leaders, emerging voices, and everyday practitioners to exchange knowledge, inspiration, and strategies for building resilient landscapes. Whether you're a student or a senior designer, this is your opportunity to be part of the change our world needs.” Early Bird tickets, including student rates from £138, are now available at www.sgld.org.uk.