The Serge Hill Project for Gardening, Creativity, and Health, is a not-for-profit initiative based on the understanding that working with nature can radically transform people’s health and wellbeing. The aim is to foster community inclusion through gardening and other forms of creativity.
Hosted by Tom Stuart-Smith Studio Working With Water: from Engineering to Ecology is a two-day symposium of forward-thinking discussion, thought provoking presentations, shared knowledge and practical demonstrations.
Following the sold-out success of Working With Earth in 2024, this second symposium brings together a community of some of the UK's most innovative and acclaimed water specialists, engineers, ecologists and horticulturists, working across sustainable Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design today.
Topics covered will range from river restoration to installing and restoring water features so that they are more sustainable, from SUDS to the ecological imperative of water, from managing water quality across cities to creating and planting lakes and natural swimming ponds; scaling right across the board from smaller domestic projects , to larger rural, historic and urban projects.
This symposium will bring together the following leading experts in their fields:
- Ed Barsley, is Director at The Environmental Design Studio Ltd and a specialist in environmental design in architecture, with a particular interest in developing strategies to reduce flood risk
- Kevin Barton, Landscape Architect and M.D., Robert Bray Associates is a leading SUDS specialist.
- Professor Nigel Dunnett, Professor of Planting Design, Vegetation Technology and Urban Horticulture at University of Sheffield with particular experience in creating rain gardens
- Ben Garner, Owner, Water Artisans, leading designers of swimming ponds and biologically treated water features
- Dr Nick Haycock, Director, Haycock Environmental Consultants a specialist hydrology, hydro-ecology and hydro-chemistry team dedicated to the restoration and creation of waterscapes.
- Fred Labbe, Director, Expedition Engineering a leading expert on sustainable drainage working internationally on large and complex projects
- Melanie Sanders, River Recovery Manager, Knepp Wildland Foundation has managed the rewilding of the River Adur on the Knepp Estate
- Tom Stuart-Smith, Landscape Architect and Director, Tom Stuart-Smith Studio
- Professor Juliet Osborne, Ecologist, University of Exeter, explores the essential role of water in maintaining biodiversity of insects and other animals in managed landscapes, via ecological functions such as pollination.
- Will Tomson, Garden Designer, Creative Cultivation designs and creates sustainably built wildlife gardens and natural swimming ponds.
With more names to be announced.
Image above: Reflection Garden, 25 Cannon Street, designed by Tom Stuart-Smith Studio. Photo copyright Marianne Majerus.
‘Gardening is unique amongst the creative therapies in drawing on the power of nature’s growth and in the extent to which it brings together the emotional, physical, social, vocational and spiritual aspects of life.
Some of the benefits of gardening derive from the focus on caring for plants, others from the direct influence of green nature on our nervous systems. The safe green space of a garden is calming which reduces stress and helps promote human connection.’
— Sue Stuart-Smith
Support Us
At a time when the therapeutic benefits of horticulture are so clear and cuts to social care are so common, this project will provide a space to heal. We envisage the development of the community garden as a whole team effort, with designers and volunteers coming together to create a space that will help people experience the mental and physical health and wellbeing benefits of gardens and gardening.
Explore The Plant Library
Members of The Plant Library have access to a database of more than 1500 different varieties of mainly herbaceous plants. This is a unique and extensive educational and well-being resource for anyone interested in plants and planting design.