Professionals across the landscape industry came together for two days of insight, inspiration and networking at FutureScape 2025, in association with Paving Superstore. From seminars to show gardens, announcements to awards, and product launches to brand-new zones, this year’s event on 7-8 October was packed with takeaways.
Held at the Excel in London for the final year, it was co-located once again with the Public Spaces Expo and the Outdoor Living & Wellness Expo, giving landscapers, garden designers, landscape architects, local authorities, grounds maintenance operatives and more the opportunity to connect, collaborate and develop their skillsets.
Here are some of the key highlights from FutureScape 2025:
1 Change of location unveiled for next year’s FutureScape
After five years at the Excel, FutureScape announced that it will be moving venues next year. The 2026 event will be held on 13-14 October at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, with both indoor and outdoor space to show the best that the landscaping industry has to offer.
2 Winners were revealed for Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards
A ceremony hosted by Tyler Grange’s managing director Jon Berry on the first day of the show revealed the winners for this year’s Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards, in association with Hortus Loci Landscapes. Eleven category winners were unveiled, as well as the title of Sustainability & Biodiversity Leader going to idverde’s operations director Lucy Fisher.
3 Holding the Europe Heat of Pro Landscaper International Awards
Expert judges spent two days hearing about outstanding projects from prolific landscape designers and contractors across Europe – the shortlist for which was featured in the second edition of Pro Landscaper International – before deciding the winners of the five categories that will go on to compete at the final next year. The Europe Heat, in association with Boom & Bonheur, is the first of five regional heats, with the next taking place in Riyadh next month for projects in the Middle East & India.
4 Vision 2035 offering insight into the future of the industry
Industry leaders looked ahead in FutureScape’s first Pro Landscaper Premium Plus event, Vision 2035: Industry Leadership. Attendees were given exclusive insights and takeaways through talks and workshops around hot topics such as climate change, biodiversity net gain and artificial intelligence.
5 Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation receiving recognition
A decade after it first launched, this year’s winners collected their awards in a ceremony hosted by Pro Landscaper’s own Bethany Vann and Green-tech’s sales director Richard Gill. From company owners, to ambitious designers, to those climbing the corporate ladder, the class of 2025 is one to watch.
6 Two show gardens at the heart of the Outdoor Living & Wellness Expo
Bristol-based contractor Green Genie Landscapes designed and built a wellness-themed garden as one of the centrepieces at the Outdoor Living & Wellness Expo, sharing the build with their 1.1 million Instagram followers. The second show garden, created by Essex-based Consilium Hortus, showcased outdoor cooking and dining in a gorgeous garden room, showing the possibilities of outdoor living.
7 Design inspiration and opportunities in the Outdoor Living & Wellness Theatre
Some of the leading faces in the outdoor living market spoke in the Outdoor Living & Wellness Expo’s brand-new theatre. Visitors heard from those who have stepped into the sector to boost their businesses, as well as gaining invaluable advice on how to design in products purposefully, insight into creating an award-winning garden, and how the sector is evolving, with architects and interior designers seeing the potential.
8 Walker Landscape & Design introducing its new online portal
Walker Landscape & Design unveiled a new outdoor living portal, The Walker Collective, which will give members access to a reward scheme and trade-only pricing alongside other community benefits such as CAD design and Sketchup models of its partners’ products, some of which were on display on Walker’s stand at FutureScape. Managing director, Ben Walker, also joined a panel discussion on how others can step into the outdoor living market.
9 Bringing the magazine to life in the Pro Landscaper Theatre
Speakers in this year’s Pro Landscaper Theatre focused on some of the most pressing topics in the industry, from how artificial intelligence can help landscaping businesses, to adapting to a changing climate. Pro Landscaper’s Holly Chapman also hosted a panel of 30 Under 30 alumni to talk technology, trends and innovations shaping their sectors and the changes they’d like to see.
10 Unveiling the finalists of the APL Awards 2026
Also in the Pro Landscaper Theatre, award-winning garden designer Peter Donegan and the Association of Professional Landscapers’ (APL) general manager Phil Tremayne revealed the projects that have made the shortlist ahead of the winners being announced at a ceremony next March.
11 British Association of Landscape Industries sharing insights from its new report
Chief executive Wayne Grills and head of policy Amy Cobbett delved into The British Association of Landscape’s new The Lay of the Land report, the results of its biggest member survey to date, and why these matter for the future of the industry. The association also held a drinks reception for its members on the first day of the show at BALI Bar Networking Area.
12 Associations coming together to accept the British Standards for paving
BALI, the APL, the Landscape Institute and the Society of Garden + Landscape Designers (SGLD) all gathered together at FutureScape to back the new “groundbreaking” British Standards for paving. They are collaborating in an effort to help make the industry better and for the government to recognise the professionalism of the industry.
13 Business advice and behind-the-scenes company insights
Visitors heard the success stories behind Karen McClure Garden Design and Wright Landscapes in this year’s Business Theatre in association with Joblogic. They also heard advice on sales conversations, cutting corporation tax, transitioning to employee ownership, using artificial intelligence, becoming more profitable, creating the right culture and getting the most out of your social media platforms.
14 Arborists being brought together at the first Pro Arb Live
A new zone showcasing the best of Pro Landscaper’s sister publication was launched this year. FutureScape’s new dedicated tree care professional zone, Pro Arb Live, featured expert-led talks and panel discussions covering everything from business advice and regulations to the skills gap and tools & technology. Pro Arb Live’s partner Lantra also launched a new chainsaw safety campaign.
15 eWeeding picking up Innovative Product of the Show
Six products were shortlisted for the new award across FutureScape and Public Spaces Expo. Judges Nilufer Danis, Justin Himpson, Jo Reid and Alistair Bayford visited each of the stands to hear about the products’ innovation and originality, the impact on the landscape, the sustainability and environmental responsibility, and the functionality and usability, selecting eWeeding as the winner.
16 Expert demos being hosting for decking and paving
Grad, Deckorators, Millboard, Timbosite, FH Brundle and Ecoscape all held interactive and engaging demos of their products alongside the Decking Network’s Karl Harrison in The Decking Hub. For Paving Site Elite Demonstrations, award-winning landscaper Gareth Wilson brought together leading contractors Justin Himpson, Els Tisserand, Nelson Birch and Mitchell Salthouse to host demos on everything from subgrades to site assessments. Mapei also returned to FutureScape, guiding visitors through the application of its grout solutions.
17 Deckorators making its UK debut
US brand Deckorators introduced its Excursion range at this year’s FutureScape, now offering professionals its decking solutions from North America. In the Decking Hub, Harrison was joined by Peter O’Loughlin of TimberbaseTM – which is part of the same global company as Deckorators, UFP Industries – to showcase the benefits of Excursion and offer expert insights into the range.
18 RHS taking over the Inspire Theatre on the first day
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) returned to the Inspire Theatre with expert advice for creating a show garden at one of its world-renowned events. Speakers took visitors behind the scenes of the judging process and gaining sponsorship, as well as offering planting tips. They also highlighted the new Elemental app that is helping garden designers and landscapers reduce their environmental footprint at its shows, with this year’s winner of Chelsea’s Environmental Innovation Award highlighting some of the techniques and materials used.
19 SGLD covering ‘what lies beneath’ on the second day
Elemental was also front and centre of the SGLD’s series of talks in the Inspire Theatre, with Rachel Bailey explaining what the tool is and its purpose before showing how to use it in practice. Focusing on the theme ‘What Lies Beneath’, the SGLD also hosted a talk from prolific designer David Stevens, an accreditation advice session by Emma Mazzullo and James Scott, and a panel discussion covering a wide range of topics.
20 Stone once again being the focus of a dedicated theatre
The Stone Federation brought natural stone to the fore in the StoneScape Theatre with a carefully curated programme of talks. From ethical sourcing to sustainability, no stone was left unturned, with experts advising how natural stone can be incorporated into a project to improve the public realm, create permeable paving surfaces, enhance a swimming pool, and to make construction genuinely low carbon.
21 Pro Landscaper’s Most Influential Stone Suppliers collecting their awards
Readers recently voted for the Most Influential Stone Suppliers in the industry, with the winners collecting their well-deserved awards in the StoneScape Theatre. Five companies were chosen across six categories, and CED Stone Group’s managing director Giles Heap was selected as the Most Influential Stone Leader.
22 Landscape Performance Live returning to FutureScape
Hyphae Learning’s Jake Catling and Sam Grayson brought Landscape Performance Live back to FutureScape, with talks, product showcases and networking opportunities to help professionals move forward in their businesses. From surveying technology to exoskeletons, visitors learned some of the key tools to help them progress. There were also discussions around recruitment and staff training & development.
23 Hyphae Learning opening its Early Adopter programme
A subscription service is now available from online learning resource Hyphae Learning, which provides digital resources from experts to help elevate businesses and address the industry-wide skills shortage. Landscaping professionals can become an ‘early adopter’ of the new hub, getting access to limited-time rates and a first look at its new content.
24 BNG, SuDS and inclusivity taking centre stage at the Public Spaces Expo
The Public Spaces Theatre brought together some of the leading names in the sector to discuss the legislation, regulations and changing needs that are impacting the design of public spaces. From the off-site delivery of biodiversity net gain and the new national SuDS standards to the Planning & Infrastructure Bill, creating inclusive spaces and Manchester’s first park in over 100 years, there were a wealth of topics covered across the two days.
25 Make Space for Girls launching a new fundraising campaign
The charity’s chair Caroline Millar and its co-founder Imogen Clark spoke about the purpose of Make Space for Girls in the Public Spaces Theatre before Clark joined a panel discussion on inclusive design. They launched a week of fundraising, having been chosen by Big Give to be part of its Women and Girls Match Fund campaign. Any donations before midday on 15 October will be matched.
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