Landscape architect

Have you ever imagined a job where you get to mix art, science and taking care of our Earth? That's what a landscape architect does!

You'll design and create spaces for plants and wildlife to make towns and cities healthier and more attractive places to live. For example, you might work on public parks, green spaces in cities, housing developments or wildlife conservation areas. You’d be protecting the environment and supporting people’s health and wellbeing.

You'll use your creative and technical skills to plan and design spaces, then organise the work to bring your vision to life.

Your tasks might include:

• meeting with clients to discuss their needs and ideas

• visiting and surveying the sites

• using computer programs to create design ideas

• presenting design ideas to clients

• drawing up contracts, managing the bidding process and monitoring project progress

• writing reports and doing environmental impact assessments

There are five areas you could work in as a landscape architect:

• landscape design

• landscape management

• landscape science

• landscape planning

• urban design

You might work across one or two of these areas or you may specialise in just one of them.

You'll work closely with landscape contractors and other professionals such as architects, town planners, surveyors, civil engineers and environmental campaigners.

Green job 

In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs. 

• Landscape Institute - education and professional development resources

• Lantra Scotland - Training and skills for the land-based, aquaculture and environmental sector

• Grow Careers - Careers information from the Institute of Horticulture

• GreenJobs - Vacancies for landscape architect jobs