2 minutes with Sarah Jones-Morris – Director, Landsmith Associates
With an impressive string of awards and nominations, landscape architecture practice Landsmith Associates is leading the way in sustainability. We took two minutes with Director Sarah Jones-Morris to learn more about how this sector can drive positive change – plus, her favourite nature spots in Bristol.
Why is sustainability so important to your work?
Sustainability is often discussed purely in terms of carbon, but for me, it’s so much broader – carbon isn’t the whole story. Through my work, I have realised that creating biodiverse, water-managed landscapes naturally leads to low-carbon and healthier outcomes. Yet too often, carbon gets prioritised at the expense of other vital factors. For me, sustainability is good design – it can’t be an add-on.
What’s your proudest sustainability achievement so far?
The Avalon Marshes Visitor Centre and our work in Redcliffe and Temple, through the BID Green Infrastructure Action Plan, are standout projects for us. At Avalon Marshes, we transformed a grey, flood-prone car park into a lush, green gateway to one of the UK’s few super nature reserves, integrating wetland restoration, swales, ponds, native planting, and permeable paving. In Redcliffe and Temple, we’re helping to close the big green infrastructure gap with engagement-led, practical, place-based strategies that link biodiversity, climate resilience, and public space.
What’s one challenge you’re currently facing?
A significant challenge is ensuring that sustainability isn’t just a tick-box exercise. It should always be tangible, measurable, and backed by evidence. That’s why I’ve focused on tools like the Building with Nature Assessment. It’s a lot of work, but it ensures that ecological recommendations get implemented. The reality is, you don’t always have control over what gets built, so it’s about knowing what’s within your influence – and recognising when it’s out of your hands.
What’s your top tip for reducing an organisation’s environmental impact?
Start by understanding your limits – what you can control and where you can push boundaries. Play to your strengths, whether that’s water management, community engagement, or biodiversity. Keep your goals deliverable and straightforward, but don’t be afraid to aim higher. For example, biodiversity net gain sets a minimum of 10%, but why not push for more? Always stay up to date – whether through training, CPD, or monitoring best practices.
Finally, what do you love about Bristol, and where do you go for your local nature fix?
I always say Bristol’s like an armadillo – tough on the outside, but soft and squishy on the inside! I love its vibrant diversity – the landscapes, cultures, and communities. That mix is what makes Bristol, Bristol.
I love walking around the harbourside or along the bike path through Easton. Greenbank Cemetery is another favourite spot for a peaceful wander.
Learn more about Landsmith Associates https://www.landsmithassociates.co.uk/
Through our Climate Action Programme collaboration with the City Centre and Redcliffe & Temple Business Improvement Districts, we’re keen to showcase climate progress and create more opportunities for businesses to learn from one another.
If you have an initiative or project we can shout about, please do get in touch with bex@bristolclimatenature.org.
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