Yorkshire School of Garden Design is awarded educator status

The Yorkshire School of Garden Design is celebrating the award of Educator Status by the prestigious Society of Garden Designers (SGD), less than a year after opening its doors to students.

The school, which launched in the summer of 2022 specifically to train designers for northern landscapes, has been awarded Educator Status in recognition of its high standards of garden design education and ‘best practice’ teaching. It is one of only two educational providers in the north of England to hold SGD accreditation. It offers a wide range of short courses as well as its flagship professional Diploma in Garden Design.

The school was founded by Alistair Baldwin who has an international reputation in garden design. Leading a garden design and landscape architecture practice in North Yorkshire he has spent 12 years delivering courses and lectures throughout the UK and the world, including at Leeds Beckett University. He has built a reputation for nurturing the talent of the future and believes that the key to nurturing eminent designers of the future is providing them with access to educators who are professionals within their field and who can deliver practical experience and insight in not only garden design but also running a business.

Of the news of their educator status, Alistair, also a principal tutor at the school, says: “Naturally we are thrilled and very proud to have been recognised by the Society whose national and international members represent the very best of the garden design industry.

“We are passionate about creating beautiful, inspirational and sustainable gardens and it has long been my belief that all garden designers should have experience of working within northern landscapes in order to fully appreciate their specific features, challenges and characteristics.

“The fact that the School has been acknowledged by the Society so soon after opening underlines all the amazing work that the team contributes each and every day, and we feel very honoured to be recognised in this way.”

Based at Harewood House near Leeds the school sits in more than 100 acres of parkland that were designed by the renowned 18th century landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown.

Launched in September 2022 and run by a carefully assembled team of tutors and contributors who are specialists in their field – from leading designers, show-garden aficionados and landscape contractors to horticulturists and head gardeners – the School equips students with all the design, technical, business and communication skills needed to design gardens to the highest standard. The courses are open to amateurs and professionals alike.

Darryl Moore, SGD Council Member for Education, adds: “The SGD are pleased to award Yorkshire School of Garden Design, SGD Educator status. They meet the rigorous criteria we demand of colleges to provide the highest standard of teaching in garden design. We welcome them to our accredited network of colleges providing a comprehensive education in garden design, ensuring that students leave with the skills and knowledge they require for a successful professional career in the industry.”

• For more details of courses at The Yorkshire School of Garden Design visit www.ysgd.co.uk