Pre-registered membership is the first step towards becoming accredited by us as a professional garden designer, and this category is for anyone who aspires to Registered Membership.
This category is for practicing designers of all backgrounds who want to evidence and enhance their skills.
How do I Join?
There are two methods of joining us as a Pre-registered member:
Qualification
Graduates of a Diploma, Foundation Degree, Honors Degree or a higher-level garden or landscape design or landscape architecture course. You will have successfully completed a course of at least 200 learning hours.
Review
If you are unable to provide a formal qualification, please email your current CV and a single sheet PDF layout design plan (a master plan or concept plan) to info@sgld.org.uk. The project does not need to have been built, but the plan must reflect ‘where you are as a designer’ and be something you would show your client.
In addition, all Pre-registered members must be able to show proof that they have up-to-date professional indemnity insurance.
- Regular workshops for continuing professional development at a discounted rate
- Support on the Pathway to Registered Membership through free ‘Registration Starts Here’ presentation and accreditation advice sessions
- Access to our annual business mentoring scheme - please contact the admin office for pricing and further information
- Ten editions of our membership magazine, the Garden Design Journal (GDJ) each year
- Eligibility to enter the prestigious annual SGLD Awards
- Get to know other designers in your area via our regional networking groups
- Access to member-exclusive resources such as guidance and documentation templates
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The Graduate Route
If you have recently completed a garden or landscape design course of level 3 qualification (i.e. diploma) or higher then you would be eligible for our Pre-registered Graduate Route membership.
Your course must have been completed within the last 12 months and must have required at least 200 guided learning hours.
This route provides discounted Pre-registered membership for 2 years; this includes all the benefits of the membership category except the ability to undertake the accreditation process.
After the two years have passed, or when you wish to begin the Pathway to Registered Membership, you will move into the full Pre-registered membership and pay the equivalent membership fee.
Applying for the Graduate Route is easy - just fill out our online application form and then provide evidence of your recent qualification such as a photo or scan of your certificate.
If you're already one of our Student members, just contact the admin team on info@sgld.org.uk with the above evidence and we will get the process started for you.
Professional indemnity insurance is not a hard requirement for these first two years of membership as you may be just getting your business started - you do need to have it in place before you begin working with clients or should you wish to move into full Pre-registered membership.
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The Experienced Pathway
The Experienced Pathway route operates alongside the existing accreditation processes for Pre-registered members.
Aimed at established garden designers with a minimum of 8 years practicing garden design, either as a business owner or part of a practice. This route is also open to Chartered Members of the Landscape Institute (CMLI). This option will require applicants to submit one complete project following a successful application.
To apply you will need to submit your professional CV along with a portfolio to include examples of 10 completed projects (these can be photos, and/or can be on your professional website). You will also need to submit one example of a detailed presentation plan (sometimes called an outline or masterplan) and the planting plan for that scheme, both as pdfs.
As with all Pathways to Registered Membership the work submitted for the Experienced Pathway must have been completed by the individual applying to become registered.
Following a successful review of your CV and Portfolio demonstrating your experience, we will ask you to submit one full project that follows the guidelines for the existing accreditation process as for Project 3 including the element on management, development and sustainability.
For more information see the Accreditation Process and Accreditation Checklist.
This project will be presented to the accreditation panel for review at a regular accreditation session. Should the submission be unsuitable or have elements missing or referred, applicants would be expected to follow the usual process – referral element resubmission and/or submitting further projects depending on the panel decision.
This route is a direct submission step on the Pathway, costing the same annually as a Pre-registered member. Application can be done via the online application form, by choosing Pre-Registered Member (Experienced Pathway). Existing members of the Society can apply for this route directly by contacting the SGD office on info@sgld.org.uk.
Pricing
Pre-registered member fees are £235 for those living in the UK, £269 for those living in Europe and £293 in the Rest of the World. The fees include up to three accreditation project submissions per year.
Graduate route Pre-registered members pay £100 annually for two years only.
Fees for new members will be charged on a pro-rata basis, as all SGLD members have the same renewal date: 1st October.
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