Sustainable solutions to designing gardens and the regeneration of landscapes with distinctive local character will be at the heart of the SGD (Society of Garden Designers) Spring Conference.

The event, which takes place at the Royal Geographical Society in London on Saturday 27 April, is set to explore the theme ‘Between a Rock and Soft Place’ delving into the current thinking and challenges of sustainable landscape practice.

It will also delve into the world of the interface between mineral, vegetal and animal, with emphasis on how and why inorganic materials impact on what plant species grow and which wildlife can thrive.

Spring Conference speakers include Julie Bargmann of D.I.R.T Studio, Loretta Bosence of Local Works Studio, and Helen Basson of Orchard Farm Landscaping Services, France.

As well as Robin Truslove and Liz Nicholson of Nicholsons, Mark Gregory of Landform Consultants, Darren Hawkes of Darren Hawkes Landscapes and Wambui Ippolito of Wambui Design.

Each speaker will look to explore how the sector can embrace a more holistic attitude to hard and soft landscaping, while discussing methods that can be applied to garden projects to minimise both the carbon footprint and the disruption to the natural ecology of a site.

All presentations will include a Q&A after, with both morning and afternoon sessions concluding with a panel discussion to debate relevant topics.

Chair of the SGD Conference committee Jackie Herald says: “There is so much to learn about landscaping for a greener future at the spring conference this year, from gaining scientific insights on the handling of soil, to discovering how to make a virtue of waste materials by unpicking a site for repairable, reusable materials.”

To find out more and to book tickets, visit sgd.org.uk/events/conference