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.

16. Looking both ways, Q & A and summary

About this video

Hal thanked everyone for their contributions and for giving him such a marvellous experience during the day and for his special award.

He stressed that he was particularly proud of his work at the National Botanic Garden of Wales with Tony Jellard.  Tony was unable to come on the day but a video about their joint project is available here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M4p9Wcx8JLDR65FmtVwACBcB8JywsnPH/view?usp=sharing

Hal also stressed that it may have been unclear that he actually didn’t stop working when he handed over the practice reins in 1997, as Brenda had to him. He has carried on with a salary which he found “very satisfactory” and the Colvin and Moggridge practice continues to thrive.

Questions followed about the role of Artificial Intelligence in Landscape Architecture; what could be the legacy for the next generation? Then questions about Hal’s professional development through working for Geoffrey Jellicoe and Brenda Colvin and his favourite project. A question about the role of the 6th sense, spirituality, when designing as a landscape architect and finally Hal’s reflections on perhaps a reduced influence landscape architects now have with politicians

Tim Gale summarised the event, thanking Hal for his endurance over a very long day. Congratulations for yet another award – a fully gold medal! He thanked staff at the Royal College of Physicians, all the speakers and contributors, everyone who came, FOLAR and the organising team and all the sponsors: Colvin & Moggridge, Artorius Faber, LDC, Hillier Trees and Alitex.

It was a wonderful celebration of Hal Moggridge’s wide-ranging roles as a designer of landscape, an author, advocate and adviser. But the core of his work has been at Colvin and Moggridge, which continues as the longest established landscape practice in the country. Thanks to them for their support today and to Hal for his continued calm and quiet persistence.

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