The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) is proud to announce its participation in a landmark collaborative exhibit planned for New Scientist Live 2026.
Taking place from October 10th to 12th at ExCeL London, this initiative marks a unified effort by the landscaping and horticulture sectors to raise public perception and awareness of their roles as critical, high-tech STEM disciplines.
In partnership with the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA), the Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIH) and Provender Nurseries, BALI is joining forces to tackle the industry’s pressing skills gap.
With the sector requiring an estimated 7,000 new entrants annually to keep pace with demand, the exhibit will showcase the sophisticated science and engineering behind modern landscape architecture and environmental management. Horticultural Trade Association (HTA) is offering sponsorship to YPHA members participating in the project and Groundsfest exhibition organisers are building the stand in support.
Transforming Perceptions through STEM
As discussed at the recent BALI Conference, landscape professionals act as environmental stewards, playing essential roles in society; managing green spaces to ensure climate resilience, cooling and biodiversity amidst increasing urbanisation, contributing to human health and well-being.
With so many young people wanting their work to have purpose and impact, this messaging needs to be communicated powerfully to ensure the future workforce. Conference discussed the need to harness combined powers of storytelling to be compelling and persuasive in order to address perception and awareness issues affecting the sector.
This collaboration provides the opportunity to do just that, to an audience of over 26,000 visitors, including a dedicated Schools’ Day on Monday, October 12th, which will welcome more than 6,000 students.
BALI’s involvement will provide young people with direct access to industry experts and interactive displays that highlight the career pathways available in a sector that contributes £38 billion to the UK economy. “By joining this collaborative exhibit at New Scientist Live, we are showing the next generation that a career in landscaping is a high-impact, high-skill STEM profession.
We are the people building the resilient cities of tomorrow.” says Rosie Sayers, Head of Marketing and Communications at BALI.
Future Landscapes
Ideas for the exhibit that still require sponsorship are demonstrations of how the industry utilises advanced ecology, soil science, and climate engineering to:
- Cool urban heat islands through strategic green infrastructure.
- Enhance biodiversity via precision-designed habitats.
- Manage flood risks with Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).
- Harness AI and robotics for sustainable plant production and maintenance.
“It’s exciting to now be on the floor plan at this major event where we can start making horticulture and landscaping more visible and encourage young people to consider them as career choices,” says Christina Walker, the initiative’s lead organiser. “With BALI’s support, we are signposting the relevance and impact of our sector to a curious, science-minded audience. I encourage others who have a stake in the future of the sector who can offer support to get in touch ASAP. We have until June to expand our currently booked space and become a central feature stand to really showcase the importance and exciting nature of our work.”
This collaboration follows BALI’s recent success with “The Hive” at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, further cementing the association’s commitment to industry-wide partnership and public engagement.
What: Roots for the Future, Skills for Today
Where: New Scientist Live 2026, ExCeL London
When: 10–11 October (Public) | 12 October (Schools’ Day)
Tickets: Available at live.newscientist.com
