Saturday Seminar with Andrew Laidlaw
Andrew is a Landscape Architect who has worked on projects at the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens for over 20 years. He gave an inspiring talk, which was based on his belief that gardens are of critical importance to our well being through engaging with trees and plants. He also said that planning for the future of the botanic gardens over the next twenty years required recognition of climate warming, requiring the replacement of existing trees with those from hotter climates.
He gave examples of his involvement in the design of new aspects of the botanical gardens such as the “Children’s Garden”, which allows children to interact with a garden with water features, different types of trees and a vegetable garden. This allows children to interact in creative play with the gardens as they wish.
He also talked about other examples of his work including the meditation garden in the fern gully, which enables people to interact with nature and renew themselves. His work also has been done in interaction with the native Australians of the arena.
He also spoke of his work in trying to create a garden in Gaza, cut short by the war, and his involvement in Gardens of Peace.
Here is a VIDEO of the presentation.
Richard Gough, Saturday Seminars