FOLAR
Friends of the Landscape Archive at Reading

Celebrating Hal Moggridge's Career In Landscape Architecture

A celebration of Hal Moggridge’s Career in Landscape Architecture

FOLAR wanted to understand what impact working with two founding members of the Institute has had on his own approach to landscape architecture, but also in the positions he took on with the LI and IFLA. He has developed a broad and deep knowledge on many aspects of landscape architecture. FOLAR wanted to learn more about some of his key interests and their practical applications that cover both his commissioned and voluntary work. Through a varied programme of speakers and topics we hoped to discover more about his work, ideas, principles, and also about him.

How can such a quiet and modest man achieve so much?

Colvin and Moggridge is now the UK’s oldest landscape practice. The archives of both Hal Moggridge and Brenda Colvin are safely housed at MERL, fully catalogued and open to all: https://merl.reading.ac.uk/collections/brenda-colvin.

One of the most valuable objectives with FOLAR’s celebrations on special lives is being able to discuss, ask questions, see projects and learn and also share so much more about different aspects of peoples’ life and work, rather than guessing or making assumptions.  We hope you will enjoy what you find here.

Hal Moggridge, OBE, is an architect, landscape architect, author, past president of the Landscape Institute (LI), twice winner of the LI gold medal, recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Victoria Medal of Honour. And, in September 2025, he was honoured with the IFLA (International Federation of Landscape Architects) President’s Award, given in recognition of his contribution for the advancement of the profession of landscape architecture through participation with IFLA.  

Continuing FOLAR’s special series celebrating the life and works of UK’s renowned landscape architects, Hal was an obvious choice. He has spent almost all of his working life in landscape architecture. Hal has spent his working life in landscape architecture. Throughout this time, he has shared his knowledge and wisdom guiding multiple landscape focused organisations and professional bodies at international, national, and local levels. Hal has long provided a compass of wisdom, generosity, and diplomacy. He sees landscapes not only as cultural treasures, but also tools for reconciliation and he embraces diversity as a strength. His courage, clarity, and humanistic vision continue to inspire. He continues working now as a consultant to his practice and advising on multiple committees, including FOLAR.  

We wanted to understand what impact working with two founding members of the Institute has had on his own approach to landscape architecture, but also in the positions he took on with the LI and IFLA.

13. Celebrating Hal Moggridge

About this video

Diane Menzies was invited by FOLAR to speak about her work with Hal during her time with the International Federation of Landscape Architects governance team. And she sent her talk by video from New Zealand

“Hal Moggridge is a quintessential ambassador for the global profession of landscape architecture.”

Among other memories of Hal’s work over the years, she highlighted his contribution to the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach, which brought landscape architecture and heritage together in an important way. Previously, the approach of the International Committee of Monuments and Sites, ICOMOS, had been a somewhat disjointed, spotty protection of monuments as heritage without an extensive appreciation of the geographic setting, the cultural landscape context. This changed in 2011 with the UNESCO World Heritage Committee’s introduction of the Historic Urban Landscape framework, not as an international convention, but as an approach that the World Heritage Centre, planners, urban designers, managers, communities and heritage practitioners globally could adopt and modify according to changes in context and culture.

The HUL approach emphasises the interconnectedness of natural, cultural, tangible, and intangible elements, advocating for their consideration in urban planning and development.

Diane points out that incidentally, the approach aligns with indigenous views of interconnectedness of all elements of our world, our environments and the holistic approach to responses. She regretted not being able to present Hal with the President’s Award, which had been her intention when President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects. She had wanted to make the presentation in person, but timing, being on different continents and an earthquake in Christchurch meant that particular award did not survive, along with boxes of IFLA documents

“I am overjoyed that now, with this event, we are able to recognise his selfless support, generosity, wisdom and leadership.”

About this series

Hal Moggridge was an obvious choice to continue FOLAR’s special series celebrating the life and works of UK’s renowned landscape architects. He has spent almost all of his working life in landscape architecture. Throughout this time, he has shared his knowledge and wisdom guiding multiple landscape focused organisations and professional bodies at international, national, and local levels. Hal has long provided a compass of wisdom, generosity, and diplomacy. He sees landscapes not only as cultural treasures, but also tools for reconciliation and embraces diversity as a strength. His courage, clarity, and humanistic vision continue to inspire. He continues working now as a consultant to his practice and as a volunteer advising on multiple committees, including FOLAR. Through a varied programme of speakers and topics we hoped to discover more about his work, ideas, principles, and also about him. How can such a quiet and modest man achieve so much? One of the most valuable objectives with FOLAR’s celebrations on special lives is being able to discuss, ask questions, see projects and learn and also share so much more about different aspects of peoples’ life and work, rather than guessing or making assumptions.

The archives of both Hal Moggridge and Brenda Colvin are at MERL, fully catalogued and open to all by appointment: https://merl.reading.ac.uk/collections/brenda-colvin

The Landscape Institute collection at MERL: https://merl.reading.ac.uk/collections/landscape-institute/

More information about FOLAR, and joining us https://www.folar.uk/

Mary McHughComment