Hi Lindsey, let’s start right at the beginning. What first drew you towards landscape architecture?
I’ve always loved visiting new places, reading maps and exploring the landscape. I lived in and visited a variety of countries around the world growing up before settling in rural Shropshire for my high school and college days. Being surrounded by many different environments made me really aware of the natural world and how people interact with and shape their surroundings.
I remember seeing a really creative naturalistic woodland ‘trim trail’ on holiday in France in my early teens and writing to the local authority on my return requesting spaces like this that encourage people to interact with and enjoy the outdoors! I think that was one of the many moments that led me to landscape architecture.
And Sheffield University was the next step?
Yes, I studied Landscape Design with Planning there. It was a brilliant course and a brilliant city. Creative and student-friendly with many parks and interesting urban spaces – the perfect place to explore design, planning and how people interact with their environment. After the undergraduate course I did my year-out in practice, then returned to complete my diploma in Landscape Architecture.
You got your first job at Axis straight after graduating – that doesn’t happen often now!
I know, I was very lucky. I met Axis Director Jon Mason at the University’s summer exhibition, which led to the opportunity to meet the Axis team in Chester. From there I was offered a role at Axis as a Graduate Landscape Architect in the environmental planning and design team. Axis was only three years old at this stage, so evolving and growing at a pace. And I was the youngest member of staff there at the time! Axis colleagues were very supportive and helped me attain my Chartership while I was there.
You left Axis for a while and explored some different roles before you came back – what did that look like?
I really enjoyed my time at Axis, but being young in my twenties, I wanted to broaden my experience and see different parts of the sector.
My first move was to Groundwork Merseyside in Liverpool which was very community-based work. I was designing and delivering projects for local people, which was incredibly rewarding. You see the impact of your work directly.
Then I joined The Environment Partnership (TEP) in Warrington and stayed for 11 years. It was a great team, including people I’d been at university with, and we worked on a range of projects of different scales, including the Hinkley Point C Connection Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) , which comprised 60 km of overhead line connecting low carbon energy to six million homes and businesses!
That’s a big project – what did you focus on?
Landscape and visual assessment: routing studies, preliminary assessments, and detailed assessment of the final proposals. Working on a large NSIP was an intense but brilliant learning experience that contributed greatly to my professional development.
And then you moved to Pegasus Group?
Yes, I supported a small landscape team there across the two North West environment teams, working on solar farms, battery storage and residential schemes. Over time the team naturally dispersed as people moved on to do different things and I found myself wanting to develop and be part of a close team again.
So that’s when you found your way back to Axis?
I met Jon Mason again, thanks to a Landscape Institute event this time! Jon updated me on Axis, its people, projects, and growth. The landscape team had grown , and the timing felt right. Coming back to Axis as an Associate, working close to home with people I trust, was a really good fit.
What does your role look like today?
I’m in the landscape team led by John Meehan, alongside a fellow Associate, working on projects with talented hard working colleagues, at different stages in their career. I work part-time, splitting my time between the office and home, which fits well around family life.
Most of my time is spent doing landscape & visual assessment and appraisal work, working directly for clients but also supporting our planning colleagues – especially on renewable energy projects, which are a big part of my workload at the moment.
What do you enjoy most now you’re back at Axis?
The team. I really value working together towards a shared goal, and I enjoy delivering a really clear, high-quality piece of work for a client that gives due consideration to landscape and visual elements.
And what’s the most challenging part of your role?
Balancing evolving project scopes, deadlines, and budgets while delivering high-quality assessments in line with the latest industry guidance. This does however contribute to developing strong project management skills that ensure robust and proportionate assessments are prepared.
As you enter your second year back at Axis, what’s next for you?
To help grow our landscape capability in Chester, supporting the development of our team, and contributing to more renewable and infrastructure projects. I’m really enjoying being part of a busy, supportive team again – and I’m excited to see how we continue to grow.
And finally, what three tips would you give someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
1. My tip would be to be curious, explore your surroundings and new places as much as possible, and engage with a range of projects to broaden your understanding and help you discover where your strengths and interests lie.
2. Surround yourself with supportive colleagues, ask questions, be open to questions, share ideas freely, and see mistakes as opportunities to learn. Good professional relationships are just as important as the projects you are working on.
3. Embrace the opportunities that build your skills and confidence, broaden your experience, and contribute to your growth.
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