Grounded In is a collaborative design and engagement practice working at the intersection of participatory practice, design and ecology. Led by Sophie Hardcastle, the practice partners with landscape architects, local authorities, environmental organisations and community groups to shape publicly accessible landscapes through collaborative and ‘more-than-human’ approaches.
The practice responds to the growing need for more thoughtful, inclusive and ecologically grounded ways of shaping landscapes, at a time when green spaces are under increasing pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss and social disconnection. Grounded In supports projects from early visioning through to delivery, facilitating dialogue and developing creative methods that bring diverse human and ecological voices into the design process.
The principles below guide how the work is approached and shape the way we listen, learn and collaborate…
1. Recognise the value of all living thingsHarnessing a ‘more-than-human’ approach to design that recognises the inherent value of all living things — not just humans.
2. Connect with nature and integrate into the natural worldSpending time outdoors to learn with and from our environment, engaging the senses and supporting people to see themselves as part of nature, not separate from it.
3. Respect the diversity of all speciesDeveloping sensitive and creative methods that honour diversity within the living world through listening in different ways to expand who and what gets heard.
4. Recognise interdependence to cultivate empathyMaking visible interdependencies between people and nature to help us empathise with others and overcome conflict.
5. Build in reciprocity and move slowlyWorking slowly and testing ideas on a small scale over time to allow landscapes to respond and teach us about what works well and what doesn’t.
6. Harness local knowledges and partnershipsPartnering with local communities to surface situated and intergenerational knowledge to inform emerging design processes.