Celebrating influential women in landscaping

Sunday 8 March 2020 is International Women's Day and to celebrate, the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has chosen to highlight three influential females who work within the landscape industry, including Managing Director Tessa Johnstone of Johnstone Landscapes, Rosemary Coldstream MBALI MSGD of Rosemary Coldstream Garden Design and Frances Dixon, BALI Registered Contractor Maylim's Landscape Project Manager. 

Tessa Johnstone - Owner, Johnstone Landscapes 

Would you like to see more women joining the industry?        

We need to acknowledge the economic benefits that diversifying the employment pool will bring. The Economic Impact of Ornamental Horticultural and Landscaping Report of 2018 estimated that the industry was worth £24.2 billion to the UK in 2017. That is an impressive figure and if we become more accessible to women, we can build on that.  We need to be progressive and ensure landscaping becomes as relevant to women as men as a career choice and, if barriers are in place, recognise that and work hard to remove them.

Why did you join the industry? 

I initially got involved because it was my husband’s business of 30 years and I had just left the National Trust having worked there for 10 years and I wasn’t sure what to do. It was always going to be a temporary fix because I knew nothing about landscaping and initially wasn’t remotely aware of what was involved.

Do you feel the industry is welcoming to females?

Although I do not work in the field - I run a business and I know that my team are more than happy to welcome all in to the company but we get few women applying for roles or apprenticeships. I am looking at ways to make us more approachable and relevant to everyone. 

The positives of working in the landscape industry…

Landscaping is a growing industry - I am as interested in the business side as I am in the work we do and what better way to contribute to the UK’s GDP than by being in such an exciting industry. We improve landscapes and make people extremely happy - there is no doubt about the benefits to our health, both physical and mental, by spending time outside. 

Encouraging new blood on board, what advice would you give them? 

Try not to immediately see the barriers you might perceive to be there. As employers we have a duty of care to ensure the workplace is accessible to both men and women. We have had to make a little more effort in some departments (loos!) when women are working in the field but we all benefit from their contribution to projects.

Rosemary Coldstream MBALI MSGD - Owner, Rosemary Coldstream Garden Design

"I entered the landscape industry after a career in fashion, re-training in my early 40s. I wanted more of a challenge than my work was giving me and found I had a growing obsession (excuse the pun) with plants and landscape. Many of the skills I used in fashion design were highly transferable to garden design, including meeting briefs and dealing with client expectations (as well as form, colour texture and three-dimensional design).
 
Once I started I discovered what a great industry it is. It is a multi-faceted job with the scope to make of it what you want. The people in the industry are all very supportive and it is a wonderful community.

In the early years of my company, I had the flexibility to work around a small family. It’s amazing what you can achieve in the six hours your children are at school. Working mums are some of the most focused people in the workforce! 
 
Women offer their own approach to garden design and are sometimes more plant-focused than men, sweeping generalisation I know!). Women are still very architectural in their design but often have a different balance between plants and the structural elements.  

Colour is also often approached in a different way to men. Research has shown women see more subtle graduations in colour than men which they bring to their designs. 

What the industry benefits from is a broad variety of designers (men and women) as clients need to choose one they can communicate with the best. Women are often good listeners which means they can interpret their clients' wishes effectively into the design. Another strength women often possess is diplomacy. Building large projects with many trades working together can sometimes get a bit fraught. A good designer can keep everything calm and communicate clearly with the client.
 
What the industry lacks is more women on tools."

Frances Dixon - Landscape Project Manager, Maylim

Has the construction industry always been of interest to you?

Since the age of 16, I’ve always knew I wanted to do engineering at university. I always enjoyed practical, hands-on activities when I was younger and it was a great opportunity to combine this with the technical knowledge.

Were there many opportunities in getting into this industry?

I was encouraged at secondary school to apply for the Year in Industry Scheme. I spent my gap year working in the industry and was fortunate, at the end of the year, to be sponsored through university by the company. I think apprentices and graduate schemes are a great way into the industry and a lot of companies are offering such opportunities. Being able to combine the practical knowledge you’re getting at college or university with on-site experience helps to reinforce the knowledge.

Do you have any advice for young people thinking about a career in landscape construction?

Do it! It’s a great industry to work in with such a diverse opportunity of different career options. Never change who you are or your personal beliefs – you’ll find a home in the industry and won’t look back.

What are your views on what the industry needs to do to help attract and retain more women?

I think a lot of work needs to be done in primary schools. The stigma that this is a “male industry” is engrained at such an early age that barriers need to be broken down much earlier. I think schools need to be aware of the breadth of opportunities available in the construction industry – not every role involves standing outside in high-vis clothing. Lastly, I think a lot of work also needs to be done to encourage women to return to construction after a career break. The industry can move quite quickly and time off can be daunting.