Biography

Nigel Thorne MSc FIHort FLI PPLI

Landscape Management Consultant (Chartered Landscape Architect)

Director of Studies: Horticulture & Garden Design, Capel Manor College

Adjunct Professor, Beijing University of Civil Engineering & Architecture

Past-president, IFLA Europe

Past-president, Landscape Institute (LI, UK)

Chair, Parks for London

Trustee / Hon. Treasurer / Ambassador, The Architects’ Benevolent Society

Honorary Member, IFLA Europe

Nigel is a chartered landscape architect (a Fellow of the Landscape Institute) specialising in landscape and project management. He practices as an independent landscape consultant concentrating on contract administration and project implementation but also works part-time for a variety of award-winning landscape architectural practices across the UK and internationally. Although trained in design, he concentrates on the important practicalities of comprehensive engagement with the design implementation process in order to maintain design integrity and to work collaboratively with contractors and suppliers to ensure the highest standards of workmanship and project operations. He was a trustee of the LI for over 15 years culminating in his role as president from 2006-2008. He was elected president of IFLA Europe at the beginning of 2010, completing his second and final term in office at the end of 2013. He works and teaches both nationally and internationally and regularly gives talks, seminars and lectures in order to promote the work of the profession around the world. In 2016 he became project manager for a £6.2 million publically financed heritage and conservation project for the Royal Parks at Brompton Cemetery in the Royal London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; the project aims not only to restore the built form historic heritage assets of the garden cemetery but to increase the relevance of this quite unique public space to local residents, communities and world-wide visitors alike. He is also currently chair of the ‘Parks for London’ charitable trust; an organisation promoting the relevance and importance of public parks and open spaces across the capital. In January 2019, he became Head of School for Garden Design & Plantsmanship at London’s foremost land-based skills college and from April 2020, he will take up a new role to drive forward the college’s ambitions and aspirations as the Director of Studies for Horticulture, Landscape and Garden Design.