The Landscape Institute said the 35% increase in applications was underscored by a rise of nearly a half in the number of people starting graduate courses.

The details were contained in Inspiring Great Spaces, a two-yearly review of the institute, published last week.

"In recent years there has been concern about low numbers of students opting to study landscape architecture and a shortage of young people entering the profession," said the report.

Design watchdog CABE had launched the ‘I want to be a landscape architect’ campaign with a website that received 22,000 hits last year.

CABE chair Paul Finch said: "We put about £70,000 into the campaign, but have no idea what funding will be coming forward this year."

The institute said overall accounts for last year revealed a "very significant trading loss" and steps were taken to boost income and stem costs.

This year’s accounts had not been audited, but "will show a healthy trading surplus, meaning we have made a very good start in rebuilding our financial position for the future".

Provisional figures for the accounts, due in September, showed £1.7m income and expenditure of £1.5m.