Soil: Often overlooked, but something we cannot live without. This complex, living system beneath us supports nearly all life on Earth. Soil and the ecosystem services it provides govern everything from our supply of food and water to our ability to build resilience and regeneration amid a climate and nature emergency. Yet in both urban and rural environments, it continues to be mismanaged, degraded and destroyed.

It is high time that soil is brought to the fore of our professions across the built and natural environment.
That’s why this edition of Landscape sets out to explain the vital importance of soil, and why the planning, design and management of landscape is so essential to its conservation and health.

Inside, President of the LI, Carolin Göhler, has gathered voices from across the industry to introduce current and future perspectives on soil, while Dr Stephen Carter and Ian Houlston FLI have recounted
its historical relationship with the landscape. I am delighted to welcome colleagues from the Soils in Planning and Construction Taskforce as contributors to the edition, and to count myself as one of them, writing on soil and landscape-led development (p34). We are also pleased to bring you articles on contamination and remediation, regenerative agriculture, and manufactured soils, with a range of case studies throughout the edition articulating how landscape professionals can provide solutions.

If you want to make a difference to the future of the landscape profession, find out more about the LI Elections 2025 on page 66. There has never been a more important time to get involved with the Institute and impact the biggest challenges facing society today. Soil included!

Noel Farrer FLI PPLI
Guest Editor