James Basson MSGD and John Moreland FSGD have taken the two most prestigious awards at the Society of Garden Designers’ fourth annual awards ceremony, receiving the Grand Award and Judges' Awards respectively in front of an audience of almost 400 guests. The accolades were presented at a ceremony at The Landmark Hotel in London where 19 awards were announced including recognition for community garden projects, international schemes, excellence in public and commercial outdoor space and a special lifetime achievement award.
International Award
Sponsored by Landform Consultants
Winner: James Basson MSGD
Project: Les Canebiers
What the judges said: “Subtle use of topography, ‘Bastides’ influence shows. Good constructional detail. dramatic patterns. Good design for a difficult site. Interesting ideas executed in a grand style. Great affinity with the space and a particularly difficult site. Sophisticated and harmonious planting."
Designing For Community Space Award
Sponsored by Haddonstone
Project: Braehead Community Garden
What the judges said: “This is a fantastic example of the type of community project which brings people together, gives them what they need and showcases how designers can help to take garden design into disadvantaged areas”.
Student Award - Domestic
Sponsored by Brickworks Vande Moortel
Winner: Tom Massey
Project: France Farm
What the judges said: “A clear winner that demonstrates that he can handle complex scales and architectural styles. A great sense of proportion and subtle organisation of the space. He has cleverly taken the architecture of the house in to the landscape with great results. Feels like a garden that will evolve beautifully."
Student Award - Commercial
Sponsored by British Sugar Topsoil
Winner: Tom Massey
Project: The Cassel Hospital Ecotherapy Garden
What the judges said: “A good honest design. Conceptually interesting and well laid out. A very clean design that deals with the space with confidence. Sensitive use of historical landscape and a sophisticated approach to the handling of the space."
Public or Commercial Outdoor Space Award
Sponsored by CED Natural Stone
Winner: John Wyer FSGD
Project: The Lancasters
What the judges said: “Original and daring. Difficulties due to what is below ground! skilled, professional, Victorian/contemporary influence merges well. Parterres neat all year and viewed from road. Curlicues and palms very impressive. Good all year round design that has been very well executed. Good techniques and detailing with a slick result."
The Pocket Garden Awards
Sponsored by Platipus Anchors
Winner: Stuart Craine MSGD
Project: Chelsea Courtyard
What the judges said: “Neat simple design when seen from house. Good colour scheme. Lush, calm planting. Good design for difficult space. Good all-season garden. Beautiful honest design. Less is more. Great seasonal planting that works very hard all year round. Diversity of colour and texture that works well insitu. Good from all angles. perfectly answered the client's brief."
Small Residential Garden Award
Sponsored by StoneMarket
Winner: Charlotte Rowe MSGD
Project: Garden in Barnes
What the judges said: “Very good handling of a difficult site.. Practical charm deceptively simple but some good detail. Good planting. Good design for a very awkward space. Wonderful planting especially good winter shrubs. An immaculate garden that offered a good solution to a tricky site. Clever exploration of width and space. A real sense of a journey."
Medium Residential Gardens
Sponsored by Europlants Ltd
Winner: Keith Pocock MSGD
Project: Miró Garden - Contractor: Landform Consultants
What the judges said: “Very smart and skilled. Hardworks well done and I liked the sculpture but more could have been done re Miró. Well thought through design - a strong plan. Fun ideas. Very proficiently executed. Ostentatious, exuberant, very smart and original - a real 'show garden' that matched the client's expectations."
Large Residential Gardens Award
Sponsored by Gaze Burvill
Winner: John Mooreland FSGD
Project: Newton House
What the judges said: “An impressive garden conceived from scratch. Creative and romantic but formal. A very beautiful transformation. Clever use of natural resources and an excellent scale and proportion. The garden has a fantastic sense of place and sits effortlessly in the countryside setting. This is a style of garden which is rarely being made today. Not contemporary, not ground breaking, not horticulturally experimental, but a lovely place to be in."
Small Budget Garden
Sponsored by Gabriel Ash
Winner: Emily Erlam
Project: The Experimental Station
What the judges said: “So different – a la Derek Jarman. Interesting and fun. Has been drawn in by the location. Feels very naturalistic and restrained. Good job for challenging site. A modest design that is fundamentally more interesting because of it. Simple but fun. Offers great value for the budget . Planting arrangements are very thoughtfully placed. Good understanding of the site and consideration for the wider landscape. Works very well with the randomness of the locale."
Hardscape Award
Sponsored by Stockscape
Winner: Juliet Sargeant MSGD
Project: Rose Cottage
What the judges said: “Simplicity enriched with several attractive and appropriate surfaces, all well placed for site. So good to see some crazy paving as well. A skillful, artistic concept , designed on site with a gentle approach that is sensitive to the landscape. Gives a great sustainable message, demonstrating creativity with existing resources. An original and Individual design that really plays with materials and textures. Very thoughtfully created. Retains character. A break from the ordinary. Has a craft feel that demonstrates different use of materials. Great detailing. Clever ideas"
Paper Landscapes Award
Sponsored by Easigrass
Winner: Joanna Midwinter
Project: Riverside
What the judges said: “Really good. Friendly, modern and local. Very complex site, well resolved. Competent design. Very sensitively designed. A subtle and exciting concept. Superb use of topography. Creates a journey that moves from natural to modern with ease. Excellent presentation with clear ideas."
The People Choice Award
Sponsored by Homes & Gardens
Winner: Greenwood Theatre Garden
The People’s Choice Award is run in conjunction with the SGD Awards media partner Homes & Gardens magazine. Greenwood Theatre Garden designed by Joe Swift MSGD was voted favourite garden among 18 shortlisted gardens in a public vote by SGD members, Homes & Garden readers and the general public.
The Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by Alitex
Winner: Robin Williams FSGD
Awarded by the Council of the Society of Garden Designers.
SGD Council comments: “As a founder member of the SGD, Robin Williams has spearheaded and actively supported ground-breaking work within the Society of Garden Designers to ensure that the Landscape Design is taught and implemented to the highest possible standards and professionalism. His design work, which exemplifies this classic attention to detail, has been most generously and humbly shared with students, mentees and members alike. He communicates these timeless qualities of good design in his written works and in the many gardens that have stood the test of time and still delight today."
Future Designer Award
Sponsored by Deepdale
Joint Winner: Emily Erlam
Project: Lindale Close - Contractor: Landform Consultants
What the judges said: “Very skilled. Will delight owner. Confidently alters existing garden to create formal, dignified entrance. Confident future designer. Interesting modern take on country garden. New concept.”
Future Designer Award
Sponsored by Deepdale
Joint Winner: David Loy
Project: The West House
What the judges said: “Beautifully built. Enchanting wild flower walk. Very well cared for. Nice attention to detail. Shows he has the skills to master a complex site. One to watch!”
Planting Design Award
Sponsored by Barcham Trees
Winner: James Basson MSGD
Project: Les Canebiers
What the judges said: “Wonderful swaths of linear planting offers great rhythm and flow. Very sophisticated and well-executed. Gives the garden a good vantage point. A clear winner."
Historic Garden Restoration Award
Sponsored by Tendercare
Winner: Arabella Lennox-Boyd MSGD
Project: Eaton Hall
What the judges said: “Arguably one of the most important garden restoration projects in the UK in recent years. Eaton Hall is a masterclass in design and planting. The project has been developed over the past 24 years and includes 88 acres of gardens and a 9 acre lake. The design builds upon exhaustive historical research but with an acknowledgement of current maintenance regimes and staffing levels. The result is traditional, contemporary, ecological and practical in equal measure and provides a legacy for future generations”.
The Judges Award
Sponsored by Majestic Trees
Winner: John Moreland MSGD
Project: Newton House
What the judges said: “An impressive garden conceived from scratch. Creative and romantic but formal. A very beautiful transformation. Clever use of natural resources and an excellent scale and proportion. The garden has a fantastic sense of place and sits effortlessly in the countryside setting. This is a style of garden which is rarely being made today. Not contemporary, not ground breaking, not horticulturally experimental, but a lovely place to be in."
The Grand Award
Sponsored by Harrrod Horticultural
Winner: James Basson MSGD
Project: Les Canebiers
What the judges said: “Subtle use of topography, ‘Bastides’ influence shows. Good constructional detail. dramatic patterns. Good design for a difficult site. Interesting ideas executed in a grand style. Great affinity with the space and a particularly difficult site. Sophisticated and harmonious planting. Wonderful swaths of linear planting offers great rhythm and flow. Very sophisticated and well-executed. Give the garden a good vantage point. A clear winner."