Leo Cheung has recently joined the team at Tyler Grange as a senior landscape architect as part of a newly established team dedicated to expanding its services beyond landscape planning.
A passion for nature and the environment, Cheung now works in a team of three to deliver nature-based, landscape-led solutions and green and blue infrastructure (GBI) strategies to support biodiversity, climate resilience and healthier places for people.
Recognising the achievement
Back in 2022, Cheung picked up a Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30: The Next Generation award while working at The terra firma Consultancy.
Since winning, Cheung explains the benefits of receiving the award during his early career:
“Recognition is a key thing, especially in my early career because there is not a lot of achievement that a young person could receive. This visibility and credibility is also key, look at the other winners running their own businesses.”
Since the win, Cheung says “the award has given me the self confidence that I’m not doing too bad,” especially during his move to Tyler Grange. Even on a personal level, Cheung has had the confidence to pursue voluntary projects that focus on the environment.
What could be seen as a neglected profession, Cheung looks to champion landscape architecture as he climbs the career ladder. Perhaps slightly overlooked, he argues, the skills are very important to any design or project, especially for the public realm.
Cheung has been working on a project proposal for the floodplain surrounding his local Tesco Superstore. A project which was shortlisted for The Pineapples Awards 2023 in the Future Public Realm category, it looked at reimagining unused land that could be more suitable for locals.
What it means to be a landscape architect
While working fulltime at Tyler Grange, Cheung volunteers as a team member with
the Association of Collaborative Design (ACD). Aiming to mainstream collaborative design across the built environment, the association creates healthier neighbourhoods for people and nature.
As a landscape architect, Cheung sees the importance. “We contribute to the climate, social justice and inclusivity,” he says. For this reason, he urges the younger generation to look into his profession, as designing a landscape can be just as important as designing a building.
Looking ahead to the next round of 30 Under 30 applicants, Cheung says, “you might think that what you are doing is small and not impactful, but you’re doing some amazing things”. In turn, he urges those toying with entering, to “just do it.”
Download this year’s Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation, in association with Green-tech, awards application form here.
Applications close on 1 August 2025.