The National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, with landscape architect Tom La Dell

Horticulture Week Podcast

Landscape architect and trustee of Brogdale Collections Tom La Dell discovered very early in his career, a passion for, and conviction in the importance of ecology in landscape architecture schemes.

Brought up with artistic background, he was more interested in breeding plants and after a botany degree did his post graduate in landscape architecture which enabled him to combine his interest in ecology and design:

"Particularly now, we're in a sort of 'disaster zone' of biodiversity and possibly even of human survival if that's not repaired very quickly".

He discusses his extensive professional history in local authorities where he had a hand in planting extensive woodland areas that he is proud to be able to see on Google Earth:

"Because the approach we took started to create much higher land values, everybody left us alone of course!"

Tom reflects on developments in the landscape architecture sector and standing of the profession. He argues that biodiversity and ecological considerations need to be "completely integrated into the design process...but as far as I can see, its sort of talked about but it doesn't really seem to be" and instead reduced to a "box-ticking exercise".

"There should be a complete integration of ecology and design in most projects."

His involvement in the National Fruit Collection in Kent at Brogdale Farm in Kent started 30 years ago when he designed a series of gardens to tell the story of fruit in their historical context.

Big developments are afoot - the whole farm (of which a third is the National Fruit Collection) is up for sale. Defra has a long-lease on the land so, depending on the new landlords, "the collection should be secure - particularly as it's got international status with the FAO".

Brogdale is fundraising for a visitor information and learning centre and to help to keep the centre going. It remains the only fruiting collecton open to the public with 4,000 cultivars including apples, pears, plums, cherries, quince, medlars and wine-making grapes.

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