The 2024 Young Landscaper of the Year (YLOY) competition will include, for the first time ever, a Softscape Practitioner Outstanding Achievement Award for the finalist with the highest combined score from the competition’s softscape skills stations
In a move that reflects the diverse skillsets required within the landscaping industry, Registered Master Landscapers has introduced the softscape award to encourage and reward young Kiwi landscapers with exceptional strengths in horticulture and its associated elements.
RML board chair Janet Clarke said the 2024 YLOY competition would be “the toughest test yet of cross-sector skills” and also “provide the opportunity for the very best young softscaper to be recognised for their standout talent”.
The new focus has already encouraged Auckland-based Second Nature’s Mania Atkins and Ryan Harris to enter this year’s competition – both of whom count horticulture as a key strength – along with Sculptural Landscapes foreman Sean Pearless.
Soft skills and hard work
“I was encouraged heaps when I heard that my skills would match up well to the soft landscaping element of the competition. Once that was explained to me, I was really keen to get involved,” says Mania, who is Second Nature’s Senior Team Leader for Garden Care.
Her workmate Ryan says he “stumbled into landscaping” after the Covid lockdowns and has since “fallen in love” with horticulture.
“I’m a Level 4 qualified construction horticulturalist and I’m constantly trying to grow my depth of knowledge in softscaping,” says Ryan. “I believe an in-depth knowledge of softscaping is what differentiates us from builders and I’m looking forward to testing myself across all aspects of the competition.”
Sculptural Landscapes’ Sean Pearless grew up on a vineyard and ran a gardening business during the holidays while at university before joining Aspen Landscapes’ garden maintenance team for two years after graduating.
“I have since transitioned to construction landscaping with Sculptural Landscapes and I’m excited to combine my background in softscaping with my recent hardscaping experience for Young Landscaper of the Year!”
Diverse disciplines and people
A desire to boost the visibility of women in the industry was another important consideration for Mania in deciding whether or not to enter YLOY.
“Being able to showcase women in landscaping in a very public setting is really important to me and a big part of why I entered,” says Mania, who has worked in landscaping for six years
“I also want to go up against the guys and prove to myself that I belong in this industry, and to show other people it’s possible to be a woman in this industry. I’m not just in it for the softscaping award – I’m in to win the whole competition!”
Mania will be joined by Kristen Gill (also from Sculptural Landscapes), who agrees that strong representation of women in the industry is vital for its future and is equally pumped for the competition.
“I decided that entering YLOY would be a great opportunity to put my skills to the test and learn some things in the process,” says Kristen.
“I really enjoy my job and, as a woman, I feel as though we are underrepresented in the trades – in particular landscaping.
“It would be great to be able to do something that can potentially inspire other young women like myself to get into a really rewarding and exciting industry.”
From learner to leader
Kristen, who is in the final stages of her landscaping apprenticeship, has risen through the ranks in her three years at Sculptural Landscapes to become a site foreman.
“I have been taught all aspects of landscaping, starting with more soft landscaping but now with experience in timber work, concrete and paving.”
Sculptural Landscapes director Jon Russell says her ability is a great testament to her work ethic and attitude.
“She could barely swing a hammer when she started and is now running jobs as a site foreman! On site, she is very organised and likes to try to figure out the most efficient way to do something.”
We wish all of this year’s YLOY contestants the best of luck! They are:
Taumata O Te Ra Lowe – Luijten Landscaping
Dillyn Van Der Merwe – Natural Habitats
Mania Atkins – Second Nature
Kale Huddleston – Sole Landscapes
Kristen Gill – Sculptural Landscapes
Sean Pearless – Sculptural Landscapes
Jarod Anderson - Anderson Landscapes
Benjamin Robertson-Woodward - Humphreys Landscaping
Ryan Harris – Second Nature
Izaak Mirfin – Ridge Projects