Porritt was speaking at the Landscape Institute Awards 2009, where firms and students were recognised in 14 categories. "This is a holistic profession that brings with it fantastic opportunities but also very considerable responsibilities," he said. "The skill set of landscape architects is a pre-conditional part of what it means to create wealth in society in the future."

The top industry prize, the President's Award, went to St Andrew Square in Edinburgh. Designed by Gillespies, the square was described as a "splendid example of public space fulfilling its potential and contributing to the life of the city" by Landscape Institute president Neil Williamson.

"They have produced a confident and convincing design for this world heritage site in the heart of Edinburgh," he added.

The Peter Youngman Award - given for outstanding contribution to landscape - went to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) for its plans for London's Olympic Park.

ODA project sponsor for parklands and public realm John Hopkins said: "Landscape architects have really played a key role in the Olympic Park, from bid stage to realisation. We want to create landscapes and buildings that will be there for the games and in legacy. We hope what we are delivering on site will become an exemplar."

Almost 500 people attended the awards. Landscape Institute chief executive Alastair McCapra said: "This year, despite the rigours of the recession, we were delighted to receive such an excellent range of imaginative, constructive and, above all, sustainable approaches to every aspect of landscape management, design and research."

Landscape Institute Awards: The Winners

President's Award St Andrew Square, Edinburgh - Gillespies
Peter Youngman Award Olympic Park - Olympic Delivery Authority

Urban Design & Masterplanning
Winner Ancoats Public Realm, Manchester - Camlin Lonsdale Landscape Architects
Highly commended Chavasse Park, Liverpool - BDP

Landscape Sciences
Commended Abergavenny to Gilwern Bat Mitigation Plan - TACP
Commended The Biodiversity of Wigan Analysis - TEP
Commended St Bartholomew's School, Newbury - Environmental Dimension Partnership

Communications & Presentation
Winner Regener8* community engagement board game - Taylor Young
Highly commended The BIG Landscape eXperiment - Hampshire County Council
Highly commended Design for Play - Aileen Shackell Associates

Heritage & Conservation
Winner Queen Square, Bristol - Bristol City Council, Urban Design and Conservation
Highly commended Castle Gardens, County Antrim - Soltys Brewster Consulting

Design Under 1ha
Winner St Andrew Square, Edinburgh - Gillespies
Highly commended Cockermouth Market Place - BCA Landscape

Design 1-5 ha
Winner Normand Park, Fulham - Kinnear Landscape Architects

Design Over 5ha
Highly commended George Bancroft Park (Phase 1) - EDAW
Highly commended Yorkshire Sculpture Park - Land Use Consultants

Local Landscape Planning
Winner Reculver Country Park Masterplan - Allen:Scott
Highly commended Olympic Park and Public Realm Masterplan - Olympic Delivery Authority

Student Dissertation
Winner: Bianca Soares Moura, Edinburgh College of Art
Highly commended: Rowland Byass, University of Sheffield

Management
Highly commended: Thames Basin Heaths - LDA Design

Landscape Policy
Winner: Liverpool and Manchester City Region Green Infrastructure
Prospectus - TEP
Highly commended: Thames Estuary 2100 - Environment Agency/Arup Landscape

Research
Winner: Sustainability Challenge London: Sustainable Cities Initiative - Golder Associates

Strategic Landscape Planning
Winner: Welsh Seascapes - White Consultants

Student Portfolio
Winner: Claire Katherine Butlin, Edinburgh College of Art
Highly commended: Katherine Jones, University of Gloucestershire

 

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