The Landscape Institute is set to launch a major new campaign to promote the study of landscape architecture at university.

'I want to be a landscape architect' will raise awareness of the benefits of landscape architecture as a career option for young people at key decision-making points in their lives. At the heart of the campaign will be the launch of a new website, www.iwanttobealandscapearchitect.com, which will be unveiled in April.

Landscape architecture courses are currently offered at undergraduate and postgraduate levels at 14 universities in the UK and although numbers are rising, it is not sufficient to meet demand in the workplace. A report published by the Academy for Sustainable Communities last year predicted a shortage in the profession of 91% by 2012, while a survey completed by Landscape Institute members in August 2007 revealed that 52% of respondents were turning away work because of staff shortages. These figures are set to worsen given the government’s commitment to Crossrail and the proposal to develop three million new homes.

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Landscape Institute President Nigel Thorne said: "There has never been a more important time to train as a landscape architect because of growing social, political and economic concern over the use of our natural resources and development of sustainable communities. Landscape architects are experts in place and space, planning, designing and managing open spaces in cities, towns and the countryside.

"The vital importance of the environment means that many public policy objectives will now be met successfully without the involvement of landscape professionals. This campaign will highlight the fact that landscape architecture is the environment and design profession for the 21st Century."

Target audiences for the project will range from 11-14 year olds considering GSCE-level subjects to 16-18 year olds looking at undergraduate level courses. As well as the website, the Landscape Institute will produce a leaflet describing the advantages of landscape architecture as a profession, a direct e-mail campaign designed to encourage exploration of the website and toolkits for landscape architects visiting schools and teachers and careers advisors, downloadable from the website.

(JM)