The Landscape Institute is firstly a chartered professional body not an education charity

[Robert Holden]

The Landscape Institute is not chiefly an education charity yet it repeatedly claims it is. For example:

"The Landscape Institute (LI) is the chartered body for the landscape profession. It is an educational charity that promotes the art and science of landscape practice. The LI’s aim, through the work of its members is to protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built environment for the public benefit." ref.https://www.landscapeinstitute.org/about/about-the-landscape-institute/

"The LI is a professional organisation and educational charity working to protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built environment for the public benefit." ref.https://www.landscapeinstitute.org/about/ 

Let us be clear it is a chartered professional body and it is its charter which defines its objects and purposes:

"5 (1) The objects and purposes for which the Institute is hereby constituted are to protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built environment for the benefit of the public by promoting the arts and sciences of Landscape Architecture (as such expression is hereinafter defined) and its several applications and for that purpose to foster and encourage the dissemination of knowledge relating to Landscape Architecture and the promotion of research and education therein, and in particular to establish, uphold and advance the standards of education, qualification, competence and conduct of those who practice Landscape Architecture as a profession, and to determine standards and criteria for education, training and experience."

Its active role is "promoting the arts and sciences of Landscape Architecture ... for the benefit of the public". It does not itself enhance the natural and built environment, rather its members do. Its role  in respect of research and education is defined as "in particular to establish, uphold and advance the standards of education, qualification, competence and conduct of those who practice Landscape Architecture as a profession, and to determine standards and criteria for education, training and experience". It does not call itself a research institute and it should not call itself an educational charity.

The government is correct when it lists the Landscape Institute as a professional organisation ref. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/professional-bodies-approved-for-tax-relief-list-3/approved-professional-organisations-and-learned-societies#a The Charity Commission has it right when it states the LI activities as:"To protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built environment for the benefit of the public by promoting the arts and sciences of Landscape Architecture". https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3956984

 

 

Edited August 4, 2023 by Robert Holden