London College of Garden Design leads the way in sustainability
London College of Garden Design leads the way in sustainability
The London College of Garden Design (LCGD) has received new recognition for its leadership in sustainability, reaffirming its position at the forefront of environmentally responsible garden design education. Recently accredited as a Green Small Business and shortlisted for Pro Landscaper’s Sustainability and Biodiversity Awards 2025, the college continues to set high standards for sustainable practice in the sector.
LCGD is the only professional garden design college with a dedicated Director of Environmental Design, Andrew Fisher Tomlin, whose new book The Modern Professional Planting Designer places sustainability at the heart of modern planting design. The college embeds these principles into all its courses, training over 100 future design professionals each year to create biodiverse, resilient, and climate-conscious landscapes.
Its strategy has already led to measurable results, from staff reducing car use by 90% to students gaining deeper understanding of climate resilience, drought tolerance, and adaptive design. The Sustainability and Biodiversity Awards judging panel praised LCGD’s “mature, holistic and well-integrated approach,” commending its commitment to passing sustainable values to the next generation.
Core principles taught at LCGD include designing to reduce energy inputs, conserving soil and water, sourcing responsibly, maximising biodiversity, and creating resilient planting and material systems. These values guide both the college’s curriculum and its day-to-day operations.
Director of Environmental Design Andrew Fisher Tomlin said: “We’re embedding sustainability training into every course and encouraging our tutors, alumni and students to lead by example. Through partnerships with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the Royal Horticultural Society, we’re helping to shape a more sustainable future for garden and landscape design.”
Co-Director Nina Baxter added: “Our alumni network, bursary scheme, and partnerships with organisations such as Perennial, the BALI Chalk Fund, and the London Gardens Network are vital to ensuring wider access to training and promoting both environmental and social sustainability.”
For more information about the London College of Garden Design, visit www.lcgd.org.uk.