Wow! What a day! Information overload. The first day was fantastic and so informative, not just in terms of understanding the multidisciplinary nature of Landscape Architecture and the partnerships and alliances we form, but also what exactly the issues are that we hear continually alluded to without clear definition, and then of course: what we can do about them. On returning home tonight, I had a fascinating conversation with my mother-in-law, outlining her feelings that not all the issues are being honestly portrayed and that the opposite argument is not even being permitted a voice in this country. My response in the light of all of the information, that we have heard today, was that, well yes, that may be the case, but not because people don't care, or are in the game for ulterior motives, as these issues have been born out of genuine concern. Not only this, but even if the opposite argument was proven true, the issues that have been brought to light by the current movement towards greener thinking, are of huge significance anyway, enabling us to better our living condition globally, and why wait for that?! The other thought I had is that for those of us currently in the profession, we now have scope for a form of landscape design that would not have been available to us even thirty years ago. Now we can be more creative, we can be more environmentally and socially environmental, and we actually have funding and support to do it, and the clients want it! COULD IT BE BETTER?!! Similarly one of the quotes from the day was given by Kim Wilkie, when he said that his answer to anyone stating that "the earth is just going through a routine cycle and not to worry about it", is that "well that may be so but if you were told after having a heart attack, that you shouldn't worry, you're just genetically prone to them, you wouldn't say "oh well never mind then", you would do something about it!"
Other memorable quotes from the day:
"Landscapes in limbo" (Landscapes that either don't have the current funding or expressed need for improvement and so remain a void, effectively fulfilling no purpose)
"Leading farmers (who control the vast majority of British land) towards new socially collaborative ways of thinking, is key to progress in land use"
"The first question that should be asked at the beginning of every project, is: What is the true primary need for this land to perform, environmentally, socially, locally and regionally"
"The social function of the designer is not exploited nearly enough"
Paraphrased: "In order to breed hope, people must be organised. Every project must tell the public a needfully responsive and responsible message."
"We need to move from value for money, to values for money"
"Cheap food should not be an indicator of progress, this attitude just shifts responsibility on to others. Unlock this chain, buy good local organic food."
"We need a change in information given to the public. They don't need, or want a complicated and at times contradictory message, what they need is small easy to understand rewarding steps that make up the bigger picture."
Other memorable quotes from the day:
"Landscapes in limbo" (Landscapes that either don't have the current funding or expressed need for improvement and so remain a void, effectively fulfilling no purpose)
"Leading farmers (who control the vast majority of British land) towards new socially collaborative ways of thinking, is key to progress in land use"
"The first question that should be asked at the beginning of every project, is: What is the true primary need for this land to perform, environmentally, socially, locally and regionally"
"The social function of the designer is not exploited nearly enough"
Paraphrased: "In order to breed hope, people must be organised. Every project must tell the public a needfully responsive and responsible message."
"We need to move from value for money, to values for money"
"Cheap food should not be an indicator of progress, this attitude just shifts responsibility on to others. Unlock this chain, buy good local organic food."
"We need a change in information given to the public. They don't need, or want a complicated and at times contradictory message, what they need is small easy to understand rewarding steps that make up the bigger picture."
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