Garden design awards
The Society of Garden Designers Awards 2021: the winners
(Image credit: Marianne Majerus)
The results are in for this year's Society of Garden Designers Awards, showcasing true innovation and garden design excellence from all the entries. But like all competition there can only be one winner.
Earlier this year, the judges visited the entries before coming together to pick an overall winner ahead of the awards show last night in London.
The 14 categories, included everything from international residential design to healing, community gardens, with one of them taking home the grand award – the overall winner from the main six categories. The judges' award was also chosen from all winners. Then there’s the People’s Choice award sponsored by Homes & Gardens which was the only one put to a public vote.
This year's gardens showed great respect for heritage, site and history. Wellbeing was also an important factor as well as biodiversity in planting and a prudent use of hard landscaping materials.
Chloe Humphreys – winner, International Residential Landscapes & Gardens
(Image credit: Chloe Humphries)
‘We entered this project as I felt it was interesting to illustrate how we can seek to make gardens with everything which is found locally and naturally,' says Chloe Humphreys of her design, The House in the Wild – Falkenberg.
'We used a hand quarried stone from the hill behind the project and only used plants found in a 5km radius of the site to make the garden. Essentially it challenges "the chocolate box" approach to landscape to date, where non indigenous plants are used often causing many problems such as over water consumption or introducing invasive species.
'It's exciting to prove that an elegant garden can be made with local plants, suited to the climatic and soil conditions and in turn ensuring we continue to host local biodiversity even with the garden setting. For this project, which sits adjacent to the Masai Mara nature reserve, this approach was essential from an ecological perspective.
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The judges felt that Chloe’s design was ‘a perfect example of a garden hewn from the landscape, demonstrating clever planting and beautiful hard landscaping that make it look and feel completely at home in its surroundings. The curves of the buildings and paving bring the whole design together to create an extraordinary garden.’
Reardon Smith Landscape LLP – winner, International or UK Communal Landscapes & Gardens
(Image credit: Jill Mead)
Christchurch Gardens, created by principal designer Edward Freeman MSGD, was winner of the International or UK Communal Landscapes & Gardens. ‘The history of this unique green space is what makes the project special, which stretches back to the 13th Century and it is a former burial ground of the church adjacent to Westminster Abbey. Several notable figures are buried on the site including Ignatius Sancho (the first black Briton to vote). The opportunity to tell the story of the site and the people that have helped to form it was a fascinating prospect.
One of the greatest successes of the project is the balancing of the past with the present. Located within a conservation area the site is surrounded by a variety of architectural styles from red-brick Victorian mansion blocks, brown granite post-modern towers, to the white patterned facades of contemporary buildings. The design balances this varied vernacular with a curated material palette reflective of the colours and materiality of its surroundings, to complement the setting and allow the new planting to become the focus.
The design incorporates subtle design hints and storytelling that acknowledges its historical links to Christ Church and the burial ground, with improvements to its layout to provide a restful neighbourhood green space to aid health and wellbeing, especially relevant during Covid-19. Key improvements include; a planting design that promotes biodiversity and supports pollinators, new habitat incidentals, improved signage and a new history panel, and the introduction of SuDS treatments.
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The judges commented: ‘A really successful public space created in difficult surroundings; the design appears simple but the designer has overcome tricky challenges to create a sense of ease and to design a space that can be used for a whole range of different activities. Lovely, subtle attention to detail in hard and soft landscaping. We need more of these spaces and a continued vision to turn difficult sites into truly accessible and truly public spaces.’
Ann Marie Powell Gardens – winner, International or UK Commercial Landscapes & Gardens
(Image credit: Ann-Marie Powell)
‘I wanted to create a commercial contemporary, classic garden which was detail and experience driven, exemplary in its attention to detail, where our natural inspirations still shone through to exude character, warmth and soul,' said principal designer Ann Marie Powell MSGD on her project Sopwell House Cottonmill Spa Gardens.
'It was a challenging site – small, with level changes and root protection zones to consider amongst so many other practical build elements - I believe we made the space expansive and uplifting - a spa garden to step off the world, relax and unwind.
Also, we designed every element in the landscape, from water wall to rill, boundary, lighting, bridging details to furniture. I am extremely proud of what myself and my team achieved.’
The judges had this to say: ‘It's not often that the reality matches up to the seductive beauty of a CGI. A really good allocation of areas in a small space, the designer has effectively incorporated a whole host of elements into the garden using a lovely selection of evergreens and a range of carefully-selected hard materials which lead the visitor in and out of the glamorous space with ease.’
Gavin McWilliam & Andrew Wilson – winners, Large Residential Landscapes & Gardens
(Image credit: Marianne Majerus)
For Gavin and Andrew the design of Longwood was a great experience. ‘The garden is special because it is the second commission from our client. There is a sense of reassurance in such a relationship and an affirmation of confidence in our work and our approach.
The garden also demanded a simplified approach, in part in response to the mid-century architecture of the original house abut also in terms of spatial character.’
Gavin went on to say: ‘The interaction between the new swimming pool building by Jane Duncan Architects and the main focal area of the garden terrace alongside was also rewarding – with the huge pool house windows pulled back the space as a whole became more interactive.
'The extensive areas of meadow and ornamental meadow planting were a treat to design, again with a client knowing how our approach might work. Sourcing and selecting the table pruned Liquidambar specimens in such quantity was also fascinating as a process.’
According to the judges this was ‘a quiet, relaxing space where all elements blended beautifully. A good balance of soft and hard landscaping very well put together.’
Alice Ferguson and Jamie Innes – winners, Big ideas, Small Budget, Garden Jewel, and the People’s Choice Award
(Image credit: Alice Ferguson and Jamie Innes)
This design duo had two award winning gardens in this year's awards.
Harley Mews took home the prize for Big Ideas, Small Budget. 'This garden provided an opportunity to explore a playful and enjoyable dialogue between movement and pause, focused view lines and moments of expansion,’ said Alice Ferguson.
This conversation was enjoyed through both the design form and realised in material features. The first use of the garden is as the front path and entrance to the property, the second is a tranquil courtyard. Exploring the conversation and balance between these two key and different paced elements brought the garden to life and created a unique space.
The path vista draws you into the space, but is then punctuated by Shou Sugi Ban post features and the Shou Sugi Ban feature panel. At this moment of punctuation a dynamic sweeping path opens the garden up and you are drawn into the main courtyard space. This moment of breath and expansion are then contrasted and balanced by the inviting continued focused vista to a welcoming enclose at the front door.
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Secondly their project, Freemantle was announced as the winner for the Garden Jewel award and the People’s Choice Award.
'A lot of our projects have a greater emphasis on some of the functional aspects of creating a garden. Include a lawn and space for the kids to play, low maintenance etc. In this case, the client's brief was very focused on creating an immersive green space and a beautiful picture when looking out the windows,' says Alice.
'Inspiration was taken from the Japanese garden tradition (temple gardens and ideas of balanced asymmetry, green lushness). The client is very much into plants and sort us out to create the design because of my background as a horticulturist at Kew Gardens. We embellished the planting with a greater diversity of plants than you would normally see in a Japanese garden. I think the combination of a Japanese garden aesthetic with a slightly more British approach to the planting has created a really striking garden.'
The Garden Club London – winners, Small Residential Landscapes & Gardens
(Image credit: Marianne Majerus)
Tony Woods MSDG and his team topped this category with their Borough City Sanctuary.
'This is a really special garden hidden away in the heart of London’s Borough Market. The main section of the garden has a listed wall wrapping around it and I worked with as much of the original detail as possible to preserve the special atmosphere that the garden has.
'My client let me plan the space in a way that worked with the best of the sun for example having the seating area in a space that would not usually work. The layout is sewn together with a tapestry of contemporary block planting and preservation and re-training of the gardens existing old fashioned Roses and feature shrubs. All of this is surrounded by the contrast of city skyscrapers and construction sites.'
The judges feelings on why this garden was a winner were clear: 'A truly-secret garden creating a sanctuary in the middle of a busy, noisy area of London. Layers of green are cleverly-used to link the garden to the different floors of the house and to the location beyond. Clever nooks and seating areas have been created without the space feeling cramped.
Beautiful planting leads you on a scented journey to different areas and existing materials and plants have been rescued and celebrated rather than being removed and replaced.'
(Image credit: Abigail Rex)
'Sedlescombe School Sensory Garden is a wrap around plant experience, a place for the children and their teachers to be immersed in colourful plants of different heights, textures and smells,' says Kristina. 'Sited in a south-facing hollow of ground, the plants envelop the space creating a unique, tranquil setting in contrast to the bustling playground beyond. In this gravel garden plants are the wow factor, giving drama, vibrance and character all year round, all with minimal maintenance and no watering.
'As a project it is special to me as both of my children got to school there; they were involved in building the garden alongside me, as were all the children at the school and many of their parents and teachers – it was a true community effort.'
The budget was perhaps the most impressive thing of all.
'Everyone volunteered their time for free, which enabled almost all the tiny £5,000 budget to be spent on materials alone. I designed the garden, quantified, sourced and ordered all the materials, recruited volunteers and arranged, participated in and managed all the work days to build the garden. I planted the garden together with the children – every child at the school planted a plant, plus I continue maintain the garden for free. I'm very proud of the garden, it took a lot of effort to make it a reality, but we created a piece of magic for the children, teachers and wildlife to enjoy every day.'
The panel also selected this design as the winner of the Judges' Award. Saying: 'An absolutely delightful garden providing an exceptional learning environment to teach children about the environment. A charming, well orchestrated and inspirational project, it is a great model for other schools. '
(Image credit: Lisa Linder)
New kid on the block Sheila Jack was the winner of the Fresh Designer award with her design The Meadow Garden.
'Although it was one of my very first projects after retraining as a garden designer, I felt that it demonstrated my overall approach to all of my work. It shows how, with careful consideration and attention to detail, a small, urban, rather neglected plot partially covered by rubble left behind from the construction work, with both privacy and boundary issues could be transformed into an elegant retreat with precision-cut concrete and meadow chic planting.'
For the judges, the garden was 'a really interesting use of a small space which stands out for its simplicity. A simple, bold idea followed through to implementation.'
(Image credit: Tabitha Rigden and Helen Saunders)
For their Murmuration Garden for Rehabilitation design Helen and Tabitha said: 'This was the first time we had been asked to design a garden for people with such a wide range of needs and disabilities, and it is unique in our portfolio. We were proud of the fact that it delivered the complex brief without compromising on aesthetics, and it demonstrates how well thought out design can provide a lifeline to those who need it.
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The design aims to really give the patients of the centre something they didn't have before. 'The previous space was not easily accessible to anyone with mobility issues, nor easily navigable for wheelchair users. As well as addressing this issue, our design provides an attractive outdoor space for patients, staff and visitors alike, with a sense of tranquillity and seclusion achieved by screening the neighbouring houses. The new garden allows patients the opportunity to reconnect with nature by using gardening as a form of therapy.'
(Image credit: Mark Lord)
Horatio's Garden Stoke Mandeville, designed by Joe Swift was an absolutely phenomenal space demonstrating exceptional quality of deign and execution. 'This is the most important garden I’ve designed during my 35 years in the garden design business.' Said Joe.
'It’s a garden that has the power to significantly improve the lives of those who have suffered traumatic life changing injuries. It has been a huge team effort.
That’s why I entered it into the awards. I feel I’ve used all my experience and skill accrued over my career as a landscaper, gardener, garden designer and communicator to design a space that meets the needs of the patients.
'It gives them a space to escape the (understandably) sterile interior of a hospital, connect with nature, enjoy the outdoors, and recuperate. The feedback is that it is hugely beneficial to those who have suffered traumatic life changing events and somewhere they feel themselves rather than being one of the hospitals many patients. Some patients also use the space to sow seed and grow plants so access to all the mental health benefits associated with gardening too.'
(Image credit: Marianne Majerus)
The only garden to take home three awards this year was Cholmeley Crescent designed by Sara Jane Rothwell. As well as winning in the Medium Residential Landscapes & Gardens and Planting Design categories it was voted by the judges as the Grand Award winner of this year's awards.
'This is probably the project that I am most proud of in my career, it was a challenging site, but with delightful clients,' said Sara Jane. For her the most interesting aspect of the design was: 'dealing with the steep levels and watching the layers and theatrical view unfold'. The clients use every inch of the garden, in all weathers. Particularly the upper section which was previously derelict.
The judges felt that this design was 'elegant, accomplished and very exciting. A truly impressive garden demonstrating a carefully considered juxtaposition between hard and soft landscaping. The designer has created some very usable spaces on a difficult site with beautiful planting.'
Ahead of the awards Sara Jane said that winning would mean she could retire happily. Given the exquisiteness of her winning design, we hope not!
Teresa was part of a team that launched Easy Gardens magazine two years ago and edited it for some time. Teresa has been a Gardens Editor at Homes & Gardens, Country Homes & Interiors and Living Etc magazine since 2020 and has developed close working relationships with some of the top garden designers such as Charlotte Rowe, Butter Wakefield, and has been exposed to an array of rich garden content and expertise.
The Society of Garden Designers Awards 2022: the winners |
(Image credit: Tommaso De Buono )
The results are in for the Society of Garden Designers Awards 2022, among the most coveted annual awards in the gardening world, which celebrate the best of garden design innovation.
The great and good of the gardening world attending a glittering awards ceremony in London last night, where the winners were revealed across categories including everything from International and UK residential projects, design for the environment, to planting design – with one of them taking home the grand prize of the overall winner.
In addition there was the judges' award, chosen from all winners, and the People’s Choice award sponsored by Homes & Gardens, which was the only one put to a public vote.
Earlier this year, the judges visited the shortlisted entries before coming together to decide on the winners – who include new names in garden design to some of the most established designers.
Brimming with garden ideas to inspire your own garden plans, read on for details of the winning designs...
(Image credit: Tommaso Del Buono)
Bringing home the Grand Award from this year's winners was Tommaso Del Buono's design for the new corporate headquarters of a cosmetics company, Davines Village, in Italy, which also won the International Commercial or Community Landscapes & Gardens category.
The judges felt this was 'an ambitious and stylish project demonstrating exceptional design and implementation that cleverly combines commercial landscaping with garden design to create a generosity of space while maintaining a sense of intimacy.'
Tommaso was delighted to work in his native Italy for the project, in which he 'was asked to create, from scratch, a sequence of new gardens and spaces not only aimed to add beauty and harmony to the daily work life of many but also convey the company’s unwavering commitment to environmental improvement and preservation.
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For Tommaso, the most interesting aspect is 'the large Apothecary garden, the heart of the whole scheme, which stands simultaneously as an amenity, a research tool and a living representation of the company’s manifesto. Making it was a hugely informative and interesting challenge that involved much research and learning about the beneficial and medicinal properties of a huge range of plants was endlessly fascinating.'
The result, in the judge's opinion, is 'beautifully planted with exquisite detailing demonstrating the clever use of simple geometric design.'
For Tommaso, the win is both recognition, and reward, for having risen to the challenge of a departure from the type of work he was more accustomed to and familiar with.
(Image credit: Ann Maries Powell / Mary Guinness)
Taking home two awards was the design of the new World Food Garden for RHS Wisley by Ann-Marie Powell , which combines and consolidates its fruit, vegetable gardens and herb gardens.
As well as winning the UK Commercial and Community Landscapes & Gardens category, it got the public's vote for the People's Choice Award, sponsored by Homes & Gardens.
'The world food garden at RHS Wisley was a very different project for us as garden designers. It challenged us in myriad ways, working with a range of exceptionally qualified horticulturalists from the RHS, creating a garden that was inclusive, inspiring and educational for garden visitors, experimenting with all aspects of growing including dig and no-dig, trained fruit, crop protection, seasonal interest and last and not least, including plants that were edible in some way,' Ann-Marie explains.
'Previously the RHS didn’t have a garden that incorporated vegetables, fruit, herbs and edible flowers all in one space, and this garden provides a holistic overview of the benefits – wellbeing, health, environment, variety – of productive food growing in all its forms.
'I believe the garden encourages everyone to celebrate just how beautiful, beneficial and satisfying productive growing can be, no matter your age, income, or ethnicity, whether you garden on a balcony, in a city garden or large country estate, there will be inspiration and physical representations of how you can develop a plot to plate experience without air miles, chemicals or high cost.
To see so many people enjoying the space makes me feel humbled and proud,' she adds.
Ahead of the award, Ann-Marie said to win 'would mean so much to us, not just professionally but personally, too – that all our energies, the research, the long hours, and the blood, sweat, worries and tears were worth it.'
For the judges, the design represented a 'wonderfully immersive public space displaying a lovely mix of edible, annual and perennial planting designed to inspire and educate visitors.' A view that was echoed by the public.
(Image credit: McWilliam Studio / Marcelo Lopez)
Design duo Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson brought home the winning prizes for two of their garden designs entered into the awards.
The award for International Residential Landscapes & Gardens went to a garden located in the Portuguese Algarve.
The dry gravel, naturalistic planting design 'turns its back on the high input, water thirsty gardens typical of the surrounding area, and will dramatically increase biodiversity,' explains Gavin McWilliam.
The judges felt the imaginative design 'offers a new aesthetic of naturalistic and native planting inspired by the surrounding landscape. Demonstrating a wonderful contrast between the simplicity of the design and the architecture of the house, the designers have created a place of sanctuary and retreat that looks and feels completely at home in its surroundings.'
(Image credit: McWilliam Studio / Alister Thorpe)
In their second award for the evening, Gavin and Andrew also won the Hardscape Design category for their design of a Kensington courtyard.
The small enclosed space provides an oasis for a family to enjoy and an extension to their kitchen area.
In the view of the judges, it was a 'thoughtful and beautifully detailed composition demonstrating exceptional quality of design and execution. The small scale minimalist design required exquisite detailing, which has been achieved throughout, creating a garden that works as a visual tableau from the house and is a pleasure to use.
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Matthew Wilson – Winner, Large Residential Landscapes & Gardens
(Image credit: Mathew Wilson/ Richard Bloom)
This design for an old walled garden that blends beautifully into the surrounding hills by Mathew Wilson was the winner of the Large Residential Landscapes & Gardens category.
'I believe the design makes the most of a challenging and quirky site, but I particularly wanted to enter it into the awards because of the way environmental considerations were integral to every aspect of the project, from drawing board to completion,' Matthew explains.
For Matthew, the most interesting aspect was reusing and upcycling materials as sustainable garden ideas, 'such as walling stone, barrel top coping, paving and so on – finding ways to incorporate these elements in the design that felt purposeful and not "tacked on" made for a fascinating challenge,' he says.
The judges felt that 'existing materials, original features and established plants have been thoughtfully integrated alongside a planting palette that demonstrates gently blended colour combinations and textures.
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Matthew Childs – Winner, Medium Residential Landscapes & Gardens and Judges' Award
(Image credit: Matthew Wilson / Alister Thorpe)
Scooping both the award for Medium Residential Landscapes & Gardens along with the Judges' Award is the stunning heathside pool garden design by Matthew Childs .
Described by the judges as 'an extraordinary garden, full of surprises and beautiful moments that required risk and imagination by both the designer and the client,' the design brims with sloping garden ideas.
'I have been designing gardens for 12 years professionally and I feel this project is a good representation of where my design journey is currently at,' says Matthew.
'Our design solution to the client’s brief and a difficult sloping site was successful on many levels. I am really pleased with the balance between strong contemporary hard landscaping elements and lots of more naturalistic landscaping and planting, which creates a dynamic but harmonious feeling garden that sits well in the wider landscape.
Although the garden is designed with the needs of people at its heart our planting design and the inclusion of a large pond and waterfalls have also made the garden a habitat for wildlife,' he adds.
With places to swim, entertain, eat outdoors, relax with a morning coffee, sit in among plants and feel connected with nature and the wider landscape, 'the garden is a true pleasure garden and our clients, who did not previously feel a connection with their outside space, now spend lots of time in their new garden,' Matthew explains.
The design recognises the huge role gardens can play in helping to alleviate and mitigate pressures on the environment, through minimising waste, utilising existing materials on site, using chemical free water for swimming, creating watery wildlife habitats as wildlife garden ideas and planting in a way that was appropriate to aspect and site conditions for a resilient scheme.
The judges were impressed how 'existing isolated elements have been retained and given new life with new architectural structures added to create a beautiful juxtapositions of geometry and natural organic forms.
The planting takes us into another world and is a seasonal tour de force.'
Tom Massey – Winner, Small Residential Landscapes & Gardens
(Image credit: Tom Massey /Alister Thorpe)
Winner of the Small Residential Landscapes and Gardens category, Tom Massey's design for this sloping garden incorporates bespoke concrete cuboid steps that make a path through a bank of lush green planting, and cascading concrete and Corten steel water features.
'This was an incredibly technical build with multiple specialist sub contractors working under Landscape Associates – the landscape contractor. There was a point where the scheme felt very hard, and I was slightly concerned it would feel too industrial, but as soon as the plants went it it all made sense and the softness provided a perfect counterpoint to the hard landscape,' explains Tom.
The result is an 'immersive sanctuary with functional and practical designed elements alongside a sense of adventure and fun.
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In advance of the awards, Tom said to win would 'be a great testament to the hard work that went into realising the scheme, a multi-year project that I was awarded early in my career, so will always have a special resonance for me. I feel like I learnt a lot, and the completion felt like a turning point in my early career.'
In the view of the judges, this is 'an outstanding piece of design that challenges the more typical approach to a suburban sloped garden with something that is bold, playful and very attractive.'
(Image credit: Stefano Marinaz / Alister Thorpe)
The recreation of a 'jungle' feel for a modest city garden by Stefano Marinaz scooped the prize in two categories: winning Garden Jewel as well as Planting Design.
'It is special for the simplicity of the design that is able to evoke a sense of discovery. This garden can tell a story as you walk through it and it reveals its components to the visitors,' says Stefano.
'It creates a powerful link between the house and the outdoor areas, and can inspire other homeowners to achieve something similar by creating something that almost could have been designed by Nature itself,' he adds.
Described by the judges as 'an exquisite garden filled with beautiful planting that creates a space you want to spend time in. A beautiful composition with simple, effective detailing and a choice of materials that provide unity and harmony – a great example of what a domestic residential garden should be like.'
With regards to the planting, 'the garden was extremely overgrown and almost inaccessible in certain spots before our intervention. The design retains the feel of adventure and discovery while exploring it, but provides to the homeowner with a useable space,' says Stefano.
Planting plays a dominant role in comparison to hard landscaping. 'It shows that gardens should be more naturalistic than formal, particularly if we want to encourage sustainable design where maintenance is less of a burden and highlight the ecological and biodiversity aspects.'
The judges felt the 'lush and generous planting conjures a sense of immersion and enclosure and demonstrates a wonderful restraint and careful composition where clever layering, interesting textures and minimal colours are combined to great effect.
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Mandy Buckland – Winner, Big Ideas, Small Budget
(Image credit: Mandy Buckland)
The triple texture courtyard designed by Mandy Buckland she describes as 'fun, quirky and creative'. Winner of Big Ideas, Small Budget category, it created a sanctuary to be enjoyed by the whole family, with a simple use of materials and well considered balance of hard landscaping and textural planting.
The judges describe it as 'an intelligent piece of design displaying imagination and clever use of levels to create a chic, sharp outdoor room, which works really well from both inside and outside the house.'
(Image credit: Harry Holding / Clive Nichols)
Championing the work of new names in garden design, the category of Fresh Designer Landscapes & Gardens was scooped up by Harry Holding for his design of a unique city garden located within a cemetery.
'This project was the flagship garden that allowed me to push my boundaries, exploring naturalistic design principles and delivering high-spec hardscape design features.
With the property being located within a cemetery and having wonderful architectural features, there was a huge amount of context to work with and enrich the landscape design. For me, the balance of clean, contemporary lines with immersive planting makes this garden feel a rather magical place to be,' says Harry.
Along with creating spaces of calm and nature immersion where the home-working owner could take work calls and unwind after a busy day, the build had to be delivered to tight deadlines to fit with filming of Channel 4's Grand Designs.
'I feel this garden demonstrates how a space can be mostly planted and yet have a clean, contemporary feel. In this changing world, I hope projects like this will inspire designers to go bold with planting and put nature first,' adds Harry.
The judges commended this accomplished garden of a designer at the beginning of their professional career. 'They have turned a difficult space into a unique and richly diverse garden, demonstrating an excellent sensitivity to the surrounding landscape and successfully enhancing the architecture of the building.
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(Image credit: Kristina Clode)
'As a project, the Wildlife Friendly Eco House Garden was all about sustainability, biodiversity and a low carbon footprint,' explains designer Kristina Clode , winner of the Design for the Environment Award.
'Every aspect of the design had environmental aims in mind: using local and natural hard-landscaping materials; growing your own food; composting and rain water harvesting; planting with a high proportion of native, wildlife friendly plants for pollinators; creating diverse habitats with a drought tolerant gravel garden, perennial wildflower meadow and a pond and bog area; plus making a naturalistic look to fit within it's Rye Harbour Nature Reserve setting,' Kristina explains.
'There has been a lot of talk recently about eco-friendly, sustainable gardens – in my opinion this eco house garden is about as sustainable and low-carbon as you can get, and it was done on an incredibly low budget. It shows how such gardens are achievable for everyone regardless of garden size or budget; it just takes good design and willingness and steadfastness by the client, designer and landscapers to stick to the environmentally friendly ethos in all aspects of the project,' she adds.
The judges were in agreement, noting how the 'simple design stands out for its environmental credentials. The sympathetic use of low impact materials, which enhance the setting and design concept, has been combined with sumptuous wildlife-friendly planting associations to create a series of garden spaces for both the environment and the lifestyle of the homeowners.'
(Image credit: Tabi Jackson-Gee)
The Paper Landscape Design award for a design not realised, goes to Tabi Jackson-Gee for her Woodland Ensemble, which was shortlisted by MacMillan Cancer Support for the Southgate Flower Show 2022.
'I loved developing this show garden concept as it combines a few things that are very close to my heart. I often think of my gardens as an ensemble of characters and in this instance it really translated well to thinking about how we all support each other through life and beyond, in the same way that a woodland or any part of the natural world works in such an intricate, balanced and delicate way, with every element supporting the next,' says Tabi.
'It was also fun to imagine a garden from scratch with so few restrictions; I had such freedom in developing the idea which was wonderful and very liberating.'
The design was inspired by how a dead tree can provide just as much support to a landscape as living ones. 'Seeing standing dead wood is not something many would expect in a 'garden' setting and certainly not in a show garden, but I also like to challenge my clients to rethink what they imagine a garden to be. Seeing beauty in death and decay is for me a huge part of appreciating the natural world and our own place within it and I wanted to showcase this,' Tabi adds.
The judges applauded how the scheme 'is creative in its approach and presented using beautifully evocative graphics to communicate the story. The lasting legacy story is beautifully expressed through the use of materials and evocations of time and natural processes.'
Rachel is senior content editor, and writes and commissions gardening content for homesandgardens.
com, Homes & Gardens magazine, and its sister titles Period Living Magazine and Country Homes & Interiors. She has written for lifestyle magazines for many years, with a particular focus on gardening, historic houses and arts and crafts, but started out her journalism career in BBC radio, where she enjoyed reporting on and writing programme scripts for all manner of stories. Rachel then moved into regional lifestyle magazines, where the topics she wrote about, and people she interviewed, were as varied and eclectic as they were on radio. Always harboring a passion for homes and gardens, she jumped at the opportunity to work on The English Home and The English Garden magazines for a number of years, before joining the Period Living team, then the wider Homes & Gardens team, specializing in gardens.
Alumni Achievements and Awards
Professional Landscape Design Competitions: Alumni Achievements and Awards# Landscape design
What are the professional competitions for landscape designers and how can young professionals make themselves known? We talk about the experience of our graduates.
Participation in landscape design exhibitions and competitions is an opportunity not only to present your projects to the public, but also to find clients. PentaSchool graduates regularly attend professional events and win competitions. We collected the most interesting exhibitions and competitions, where the works of our Listeners were marked.
Dacha. Garden. Landscape
“Dacha. Garden. Landscape” is the largest spring exhibition for gardeners. Awarded with the UFI (World Organization of the Exhibition Industry) mark. The exposition presents everything for horticultural work - from seedlings to composters, from decorative elements of garden design to bathhouses and greenhouses.
Seminars, master classes, performances by famous agronomists and landscape designers are held within the framework of the exhibition. Visitors can get advice from the best Russian experts in the field of landscape construction.
Gardens and People
Gardens and People is a prestigious international festival of horticulture and landscape art. In 2019, more than 30 thousand people became its visitors. Lectures, master classes are held as part of the festival, and environmental projects are being implemented. The central event is the holding of competitions in which landscape designers from Russia and other countries take part.
Last year, PentaSchool graduates Anastasia Pestryaeva, Liliana Titarenko and O. Luchagova participated in the Fifth Element competition for the best idea for an exhibition garden. The competition gave young designers the opportunity to show their work to professionals. They were noted in the "Beginners" nomination, and now they have grown significantly as specialists, they are working on their own design projects and continue to develop in landscape design.
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is an international forum for landscape architects.
Speakers included the author of books on landscape design, Rosemary Alexander (Great Britain), and Igor Skobelev, head of the Garden of Your Dreams nursery. The Green Arrow is a meeting place for professionals who share knowledge and experience in an informal setting.
Visiting professional forums helps landscape designers stay up to date with current trends in landscape design. And in 2019Our graduate Anna Koveshnikova not only attended the forum, but also received a 3rd degree diploma for her active participation in the business program.
How to participate in professional events
Usually you need to register and submit your work to participate. PentaSchool students already during their studies collect portfolios and develop their own landscape design projects that can be presented at exhibitions. If you are planning to improve landscape gardening areas, we recommend our courses:
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“Landscape design and design.
Garden and park construction. Students of the course will master the profession of a landscape designer from scratch, learn how to sketch their ideas, draw up a master plan for the site and, under the guidance of professionals, create their own project for landscaping and landscaping. -
"Landscape and landscape gardening construction". Course for landscapers, designers and other professionals who want to master the profession of landscape architect. The result of the training will be a landscaping project and its visualization in 3D.
In the classes you will gain the knowledge that is necessary to work as a landscape architect, as well as learn how to promote your services, where to look for customers and how to present your work at competitions and more!
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Awards and Media Publications
Awards
Our victories in landscape design competitions.
This section clearly shows our progress as designers. Yes, we love our work and we are constantly learning to create more and more interesting and harmonious gardens
FIRST place in the nomination "Best implemented GARDEN", 2020
The project "Les.Dom.Garden" won first place in the nomination "Best implemented GARDEN" at the competition of landscape projects and implemented gardens PROlandshaft 2020, organized by the Association of Landscape Industry Specialists of Belarus .
This garden is about the power of simplicity. About natural modesty and tact. About the ability to find one's place, recognizing the importance and role of the environment and architects.
This garden is about silence and solitude. About tall pines and openwork chiaroscuro. About the versatility of the green color, its subtleties and nuances. No frills or pretentiousness. Garden for the soul.
FIRST place in the nomination "The best implemented FRAGMENT of the garden", 2020
The project "Show Garden" - the wasabi philosophy won first place in the nomination "Best implemented FRAGMENT of a garden" at the competition of landscape projects and implemented gardens PROlandscape 2020, organized by the Association of Landscape Industry Specialists of Belarus.
This 55m2 mini-garden is part of the Philosophy exposition garden, the task of which is to show the use of different stylistic techniques for shaping the landscape, the play of color and its shades, the combination of textures and textures of the materials used. It is simple, elegant and decorative at any time of the year.
A green blanket of green Japanese spirea sauce in spring turns into a delicate pink-crimson haze of flowering arrays in summer.
The garden acquires a special note of "sharpness" with the onset of autumn, when "burning" umbrellas made of euonymus light up. The first snow falls on the graceful architecture of their "burning out" crowns, the green "pillows" of mountain pines and already leafless, but architectural arrays of Japanese spireas.
The philosophy of wasabi is the philosophy of a discreet palette and a bright climax note!
FIRST place in the nomination "PROJECT of a small garden", 2016
The "New Wave" project won first place in the "Small Garden PROJECT" nomination at the competition of landscape projects and implemented gardens PROlandshaft 2016, organized by the Association of Landscape Industry Specialists of Belarus.
Mature birch trees existing on the site prompted the idea of creating a garden in a natural style. The idea of the project was based on the re-creation of a picturesque corner of nature filled with herbs and small-scale flowering perennials resembling a flowering meadow.
This is a garden about softness and lightness, about freedom and the wind swaying the grass.
FIRST place in the nomination "Best Implemented Garden 2016"
The project "Garden for a Bachelor" won first place in the nomination "Best Implemented Garden 2016" at the competition of landscape projects and implemented gardens, organized by the Association of Landscape Industry Specialists of Belarus.
This project there is also a second name - "Maximum from the Minimum"... On a small plot, a little more than 10 acres, there are large houses, a bathhouse, two parking lots, a vegetable garden with a greenhouse, fruit trees and shrubs, a swimming pond, a solarium area, a patio area and lawns with flower beds - a lot, for such a small area. But at the same time, we were true to our main principle here too - everything is in time, everything is to the point: beautiful and functional!.
SECOND place in the project competition, 2015
The Air Geometry project took second place in the nomination "Small Garden PROJECT 2015" at the competition of landscape projects organized by the Association of Landscape Industry Specialists of Belarus.
The main idea of the project is a harmonious combination of architecture and natural environment. There are no clear boundaries between home and garden. The garden is an extension of the house. Another room, only under the open sky. The house and the garden are a single space for a comfortable life of a person.
Media publications
Media Publications and Seminars
Journal "Garden Design", No. 4. July-August 2020
Magazine "Garden design", №4. July-August 2020
An article about our project, our mini-garden with an interesting name "Wasabi Philosophy", which became the winner in the project competition in the nomination "The Best Implemented Garden FRAGMENT". The article contains the history of the creation of this garden, the main idea and a description of its features
Journal "Garden Design", No. 3. May-June 2020
Magazine "Garden design", №3. May-June 2020
Our garden "Forest. House. Garden", as the winner of the project competition in the nomination "Best implemented GARDEN" on the cover of the magazine, and in the article itself the history of the creation of this garden
Seminar "Limes and Maples.
Varieties and forms", January 2020
January 2020. Seminar "Limes and Maples. Varieties and forms. Aesthetic features of varieties by seasons".
Organizer of the seminar "Association of Landscape Industry Specialists of Belarus" . Lecturer - Alla Klapkova, director of "Grinton" LLC
It has already become a tradition to hold seminars and share knowledge about the characteristics of plants. We are constantly learning ourselves and sharing our knowledge with the professional community of landscape designers in Belarus.
Journal "Garden Design", No. 3. May-June 2019
Magazine "Garden design", №3. May-June 2019 An article about the company "Grinton", about its founder and director, about love for plants and their work, professional growth, fashion trends in landscape design and much more
February 2019 February 2019. Seminar "Decorative apple trees, hawthorns, mountain ash. Varieties and forms. Aesthetic features of varieties by seasons".
Organizer of the seminar "Association of Landscape Industry Specialists of Belarus" .
