Awards and feedback

Redorbit's Red Hot Site of the Day - 19 October 2006

RedOrbit.com, was launched in May 2003, with the goal of "creating the largest, most unique internet community, with the strongest consumer brand, in the most underserved niche on the web". RedOrbit.com has since become "the premier internet destination for space, science, health and technology enthusiasts around the globe".

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Cyburbia - Planning Site of the Day (4 March 2006):

"Another one for planners in the UK, but not ignoring other parts of the world: Sapling (sapling.org.uk), an acronym of sorts for "Architecture, Planning and Landscape INformation Gateway, features close to 900 reviewed links to architecture, planning and landscape-related websites, and also includes events listings, news headlines, and a bookstore. Site reviews are refreshingly honest; they mention that the Resource Directory on Cyburbia has seen better days. (We're working on that, but first, fine-tuning the new CMS.) Sapling, like Cyburbia, is a long-established planning related Web site; it first went online in 1998 with little fanfare."

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Simon Fraser University, Vancouver - Urban Design Web Resource Manual (October 2005):

"Before sites are added to Sapling they are reviewed and rated on a 10-point scale. They also provide an opportunity for users to rate the site and read other's reviews. Each site includes a detailed annotation allowing you to narrow down your search and find exactly what you are looking for. This site is very easy to navigate but at times links to other pages may take a while to load..."

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Article in 'Childrens' Geographies' journal - 'How can we give 'Children's Geographies' away?' by Professor Christopher Spencer (August 2005):

"...there are already a number of heroic individuals who offer something of an information service for colleagues in their profession(s): one such that I like is Graham Soult's SAPLING..."

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ResearchBuzz News:

US-based Internet research site, ResearchBuzz, reviewed Sapling in the 19-25 September 2002 edition of its weekly newsletter, commenting:
"As you might imagine from the acronym, this site contains a lot of different information... Annotation is really extensive..."

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Article in 'The Courier Mail' [Australian newspaper]:

Writing in Queensland newspaper, The Courier Mail, on 14 September 2002, Internet expert and author Belinda Weaver says:

"Higher education worldwide does more than teach students and produce new research. Increasingly, it provides the best Web guides online. Sapling is a new online gateway to materials on architecture, planning and landscape design. It links to books and news as well as websites, and organises materials by theme. When you click on a topic, you get a breakdown of what is available, such as news, organisations, research and companies. Sapling is still an Internet sapling - it will take time to grow - but it is a nice-looking site for architects and planners."

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Amazon.co.uk - 'Associate of the Week', July 2002:

"Sapling is a site related to architecture, planning and the landscape and is a great information gateway - containing over 700 links to Web sites, books and news stories, all organised by theme. You can catch up on the latest news from the construction world, find links to sites for transport organisation and take a look at research concerning housing, real estate and self-build. Every topic covered by the site has it's own mini book shop with links to relevant titles and a brief review. There is a larger book shop featuring the Book of the Month" and a top 10 selection. There are also Amazon Recommends in many places on the site. It couldn't be easier to find the perfect book."

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University of Bath Library:

"Sapling is another helpful site leading to quality websites."

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University of Birmingham - Urban Morphology Research Group:

"Excellent site packed with information and links for those interested in architecture, planning and landscape."

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Michael Beaman Ltd - Regeneration Intelligence:

Here are some links to sites that I have found useful and which you might not be familiar with... I rate RUDI's news as better but prefer Sapling's bookshop facility."

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Faculty of Health and Sciences, Staffordshire University:

"[A] portal between Sapling and Amazon - loads of material."

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RSC Wales Information Gateway:

"This site is maintained by Newcastle-based academic Graham Soult. It covers the following subjects: architecture, arts and culture, construction, heritage, housing, landscape, planning, regeneration, sustainability and transport. Each subject area has news, organisations, resources, research, companies and links to book details from amazon.co.uk. While the number of sites covered in each subject is relatively small, it is a useful source of selective, free web sites in the subject areas covered, which are otherwise hard to find, scattered across a number of other gateways. Though not aimed specifically at the education community, the sites mentioned could be useful starting points for staff and students in a number of FE curriculum areas including landscape, horticulture, design, geography, tourism etc."

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Miss Archy.com - the place for young women in architecture:

"Sapling, the Architecture, Planning & Landscape Information Gateway, is a great place to find information about architecture and related subjects. This UK based site has a large and comprehensive links directory, bookshop, message board and chat."

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Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication - Learning Resource Centre 'Web Site of the Month' for November 2002:

"Each month, we profile ten web sites that offer quality information about art, design, fashion, architecture or anything else that may be useful to Ravensbourne students and staff..."

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Heriot-Watt University Library's Internet Resources Newsletter - 'Nice Site', September 2002:

Librarian Roddy MacLeod also offers some constructive criticism, claiming that:
"The colours are rather garish, and the acronym a bit convoluted, but this gateway to architecture, planning and landscape information works quite well in providing news headlines, other information and links to the main Internet resources in the subjects covered." [these comments refer to Sapling's old design]

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FERL - 'Collaborative Learning in Town Planning and Construction' by Lorraine Lavery:

"The Sapling gateway has proved to be particularly useful for those students undertaking the individual final year Personal Project unit."

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