BSc (Hons) Landscape Architecture graduate Nathan Webster has been recognised as one of the most promising young stars of the UK’s landscaping industry.

Nathan, 22, who graduated from University Centre Reaseheath in 2019, was a winner in the prestigious Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation 2021. The initiative, sponsored by Green-Tech, recognises, rewards and promotes the 30 best young people in the sector, who are aged under 30, and is one of the highest awards achievable.

Contestants were judged by a panel of key industry leaders and scored on their passion, skills, qualifications, achievements and goals. They were also asked to send a personal message to young people looking to join the industry and to put forward suggestions which would have a positive impact within the sector.

Raising environmental awareness, tackling climate change and focusing on sustainability were high on the agenda in all the entries.

Nathan, who was one of the younger winners, received his award at the major industry exhibition FutureScape 2021, held at ExCeL London. He works as a landscape architect for Wright Landscapes Ltd, one of North West’s leading landscape construction companies, and attended the function with two of the company’s directors including his father, Lee Webster.

Nathan said: “I’m over the moon. This is a really prestigious award and a major recognition within the sector. It didn’t seem real at first but now it’s sunk in I’ve realised what an honour and achievement it is, and how much it could mean for me in the future.

“The presentation skills I learned, particularly on my degree, helped me to prepare my entry, which was very substantial and based on evidence and drawings of my experience on projects.”

Nathan studied with us for five years, first completing a Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture before progressing onto his three year Honours degree. He was on the student team which designed our award winning show gardens at RHS Tatton Flower Show in 2018 and 2019 and won a medal there with his own garden aged just 17.

He also worked for Wright Landscapes throughout his studies, starting at the bottom and working his way up so he has a very in depth knowledge of his industry.

The Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30 is not Nathan’s only ‘Oscar’ level award. While still an undergraduate, Nathan won a British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) award in 2019 for his design of a hill top garden for a private residence.

Nathan worked with his client to deliver innovative hard and soft landscaping and the design, entered in the BALI category: Domestic, budget £250K upwards, was built and maintained for its first year by Wright Landscapes.