LRG members came together online on 4 September for our 2026 Annual General Meeting, reviewing the past year, electing trustees and approving changes to the charity’s Constitution as we look towards our 60th anniversary in 2027.
Members joined trustees from across different locations and time zones for this year’s AGM. Chair Laura Watt reflected on a year of development across LRG, highlighting our growing international and thematic networks, the new membership system, work to bring the LRG and Landscape Exchange (LEX) websites together, and preparations for our 60th anniversary.
The meeting also heard about the four projects selected from approximately 70 applications to the 2026 Research Fund, continued work with the European Landscape Consortium, and plans to make LRG’s substantial archive and resources easier to discover and use.
Trustee elections
Six candidates stood for six available trustee positions. Members re-elected Laura Watt, Merham Keleg, Jens Haendeler, Amanda Byer and Rachel Dominy, while Robin Hüppe was elected to the Board for the first time. Rachel, who joined the Board as Treasurer earlier this year, begins her first elected term.
Meet our new trustee Robin Hüppe →
Constitution updated
Members unanimously approved proposed amendments to the LRG Constitution intended to provide greater clarity around trustee terms and support continuity on the Board.
The previous arrangement requiring one-third of trustees to retire each year will be replaced by fixed three-year terms, staggered across the Board. Trustees may serve up to three consecutive terms – a maximum of nine years – while members retain the ability to approve an exceptional additional period where this is considered to be in LRG’s best interests.
The changes are intended to make the commitment clearer for incoming trustees while maintaining regular opportunities to bring new perspectives onto the Board.
Looking towards 2027
Treasurer Rachel Dominy reported that LRG ended 2025 with a surplus of approximately £18,000 and unrestricted reserves of just under £220,000, providing capacity to support activity during the 60th-anniversary year. Journal income remained strong, performing better in 2025 than in 2024.
Members also discussed the continued growth of the Research Fund, with the Board due to consider whether its budget could be expanded at its October strategy meeting. An initiative linking unsuccessful Research Fund applicants with regional coffee-hour hosts was also welcomed, creating further opportunities for researchers to share and discuss their work.
The meeting heard an update from Landscape Research Editor-in-Chief Hannes Palang, who reported significant growth in submissions to the journal, alongside forthcoming issues and the completion of its long-planned design change. The Board will consider the journal’s longer-term publishing model at its October strategy meeting.
Laura closed the meeting by thanking members, trustees, staff and volunteers for their participation and contribution to LRG’s work.