The Society Of Garden Designers
In 1981 a few of the country’s top garden designers decided their industry needed
its own professional body and as a result The Society of Garden Designers was established
and today is still the only professional body in the UK dedicated solely to garden
design. Its main aims are to promote excellence in garden design, to recognise and
promote Registered Members and Fellows of the Society as professional garden designers
and to serve its wider membership.
With many designers working on their own, being a garden designer can be a lonely
business. Membership of the Society not only brings access to the Society’s website
and online forum but more personal contact via national conferences and regional
workshops and seminars. These all provide top quality information and help continued
learning. They are also an excellent means of meeting fellow designers and members
of other relevant organisations. One of the best things about garden designers is
that most are very happy to help others within the profession and local cluster
groups are an excellent way of sharing local knowledge and experiences. Groups vary
in size and often meet in members’ houses or a local pub and discussions can vary
from sustainable gardening to how to persuade a client not to buy a hideous garden
ornament!
Through its Directory of Registered Designers, the Society’s website is one of the
key ways for clients to find top quality designers. To be included on this list
designers must be either Registered Members (MSGD) or Fellows of The Society (FSGD).
Fellowship is given to Registered members as recognition of the time, energy and
commitment they have given to the Society. To obtain Registered membership a designer
must have at least two years full time work experience and have successfully completed
a rigorous adjudication process. This process includes the submission of three complete
projects, from start to finish, including all survey details, plans and planting
information. The designer has to prove they can carry out every aspect of garden
design to an extremely high standard before the adjudication panel will approve
their application for Registered Member status. It is by this means that the Society
can confidently recommend any designer listed on the directory.
Those designers working towards this level of membership are given the opportunity
to attend workshops and forums to help them understand what they should be aiming
for. Along with conferences, seminars and cluster groups the Society provides numerous
means of support for all its members. As a non-profit making organisation the Society
uses all its membership funds to further the aims of the Society and it is keen
to continue to add to the list of Registered members.
One of the perks of membership is not only receiving the Society’s newsletter Vitis,
but also The Garden Design Journal, produced 10 times per year. This is the only
UK magazine aimed squarely at designers and contains articles relevant to design
rather than more general gardening as seen in other publications. Latest design
theories and trends are explained, problems of climate change and how it will affect
gardens are discussed and wonderful gardens both old and new are amongst those items
featured. Topics for articles are wide and varied with the result that whatever
the designer’s experience there is sure to be something of interest.
The Society is an organisation at the forefront of garden design; providing a source
of learning and support for its members and a reliable starting point for clients
to locate a reputable designer.
For further information please go to:
www.sgd.org.uk
© Sharon Brown
18th January 2008