We need to stop designing nature and start working with it

By Mike Goodall, co-founder and design director at OOBE

Scotland has set ambitious goals to become nature-positive by 2030, backed by a national biodiversity strategy[1] and new planning policy through National Planning Framework 4[2]. Nature must now be treated as essential infrastructure, not a decorative afterthought. In order for that shift to happen, we need to change how we plan and design the built environment.

At OOBE, we believe biodiversity net gain is a step in the right direction. The principle is simple: developments should leave nature better off than before. This means making sure that new developments don’t just limit environmental harm but actively improve nature, by creating more or better-quality habitats than were there before. Embedding nature into development is essential – not just for ecology, but for the health, identity and resilience of places.

But to make BNG meaningful, we need a shift in approach. One that brings landscape architects and ecologists into the process from the very beginning and keeps them involved throughout. Delivering it is rarely straightforward. Climate, policy and public perception often pull in different directions.

In Scotland, climate change brings its own challenges. Wetter winters, saturated soils and unpredictable summers are putting stress on planting schemes. We favour native species where we can, but many are struggling to cope. That puts pressure on ecologists and designers to find a workable middle ground – one that respects local ecology but still functions year after year.

The key is earlier collaboration. Too often, ecologists do a survey right at the start, then disappear until planning. By then, the layout is fixed, and landscape architects are left trying to retrofit biodiversity into whatever space is left. We need to flip that model. Landscape architects and ecologists should be working together from the start, shaping layout, land use and planting with a shared understanding of what’s possible – and what will stand the test of time.

There’s still a deep-rooted belief that ‘good’ landscapes should look ‘designed’, decorative and controlled. That’s why many projects default to ornamental planting, often used to look naturalistic, often when it offers little ecological value. It may look tidy, but it rarely supports biodiversity or long-term resilience.

We need to shift that mindset. In cities especially, there’s an expectation that green space should feel manicured and contained. That can make it harder to deliver more naturalistic schemes that favour native species, layered planting and seasonal change. These landscapes might not look formal, but they do far more for nature.

This shift in thinking takes time, but it also takes explanation. On one recent project, we introduced a low-mow lawn to encourage pollinators. Some users called it messy – until we installed a sign explaining the approach. Perception changed. Small interventions like that can make a big difference in how landscapes are understood, valued and cared for.

An example of this was at Barclays BECO in Glasgow. OOBE designed a civic space using native trees and climate-resilient perennials to create a landscape that feels both natural and intentional. We spoke to people using the space who described it as calm, safe and welcoming. That feedback reinforced something we’ve always known: people are more likely to use green space when it feels looked after.

This matters now more than ever. In England, developers are now required to deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain on most new projects[3]. While Scotland hasn’t yet made this law, national guidance is moving in that direction[4]. If we don’t bring the public with us – and explain why these changes are being made – we risk delivering landscapes that meet technical requirements but fail to connect with the people who use them.

There’s a business case here too. According to NatureScot, 77% of Scots were using local greenspace weekly by late 2021, up from 60% before the pandemic, and 90% of users said it boosted their mental wellbeing[5]. Research published by Public Health Scotland and The Lancet has also shown that access to greenspace reduces health inequalities and improves outcomes, particularly in disadvantaged communities[6]. These aren’t soft benefits – they’re part of the value equation.

When we design with nature from the outset – in schools, streets, courtyards or civic centres – we’re not just supporting biodiversity, we’re also investing in people.  In a future where nature, health and infrastructure are seen as inseparable.

Of course, there’s no perfect answer. Climate is changing, and we’ll need to keep adapting. But if we bring ecologists and landscape architects into the conversation from the start and treat the public as part of that conversation too, we can design places that feel rooted, resilient and real.

Because this isn’t about making landscapes look like nature. It’s about letting them be natural spaces and helping people see the value in that

[1] https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-biodiversity-strategy-2045/

[2] https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-planning-framework-4/pages/3/

[3] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-biodiversity-net-gain

[4] https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/planning-and-development/planning-and-development-advice/planning-and-development-enhancing-biodiversity

[5] https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/covid-19-and-greenspace-use-survey-findings/covid-19-and-greenspace-use-survey-findings-summary/

[6] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(23)00212-7/fulltext