The winners of the 2023 Landscapes of Distinction (LoD) Awards have been announced and some incredible projects and people took home the top prizes. In this issue of NZ Landscaper Magazine, we feature our Premier Award winners – showcasing the talent, dedication and hard work of those at the top of our industry
This year's judging panel had a bumper crop of superb projects to assess, and I’m delighted to announce that the competition saw the highest number of entrants ever across all categories – 32 in total! Incredible levels of creativity, craft and consideration for client briefs and environmental impact were on display, demonstrating the quality within our industry. Turn to page 12 to see this year's winning projects!
While the awards provide a great opportunity to celebrate our top talents, it must be acknowledged how tough economic conditions have impacted client budgets and landscapers' businesses. In this issue, we pick the brains of three business owners to see how they have responded and how they are planning for the future.
Another issue facing the industry is sustainability, as we head towards increasingly unstable weather patterns. The LoD awards showcased much consideration for environmental impact and an innovative use of materials and design. In this issue, we look at the benefits of pervious concrete to reduce flooding and how careful planting and land management can mitigate excess surface water in gardens.
In other news, we feature the story of an Auckland arborist who was fined for cutting down a notable tree – read about this and the law relating to notable trees inside.
As always, we hope you enjoy and find this issue useful. We consistently receive positive feedback on NZ Landscaper Magazine but are always open to new ideas, so feel free to get in touch with topics you’d like to see featured by emailing editor@nzlandscapermag.co.nz