Sian Thomasson

2023

Horticulture

Sponsored by Mayfield.

I have completed a diploma of landscape design, and this has sparked my interest in strategies for sustainability in the landscape design industry.

The Global Footprints Scholarship will further equip me with hands on experience in landscape design and the horticulture industry. I was particularly inspired to apply for this scholarship after hearing about 2022 scholar Remy Alonso’s experience at the Chelsea Flower Show and the Eden Project.

I am familiar with small residential gardens of Sydney and also rural properties in NSW (Tamworth and Scone, where I grew up), however I would love to learn more about other gardens and landscape design on an international level.

I am most inspired about the potential of gardens to be more sustainable through biodiversity. I was inspired to learn that Great Dixter Gardens in the UK has the third highest biodiversity of any natural area in the UK.

I would love to travel to the U.K or anywhere in Europe. I am most attracted to the U.K as it is the pinnacle of horticulture and landscape design, especially the Chelsea Flower show.

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is also of great interest to me as it combines science (seed bank) with a focus on plant biodiversity.

Cottage, naturalistic perennial gardens and historic gardens interest me the most and I would love to learn everything about plant species, selection, maintenance and different horticultural practices with a focus on sustainability and education.

I aim to bring the knowledge and connections gained overseas and share them through education and application as a landscape designer in Australia.