National Landscape Awards

National Landscape Award winners honoured at London ceremony

Amid the grand setting of the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, winners of the National Landscape Awards were once again showered in glory. After a necessary move to a virtual event last year, the eagerly anticipated physical return of the largest landscaping awards in Europe, generously supported by headline sponsor Green-tech, was a roaring success.

We welcomed close to 1,000 guests, joining us to celebrate the best of the best from within our industry in luxurious style as we bestowed 29 Principal Awards, four Special Awards and the much-coveted Grand Award.

BBC Radio Five Live’s Colin Murray played a perfect host, telling his stories about his aspirations as a young man to pursue a career in landscaping prior to being lured into the world of journalism.

Graduate Gardeners win Grand Award

The big prize of the night, the Grand Award, sponsored by headline sponsor Green-tech, was won by Graduate Gardeners for Private Garden, Cheltenham. It was selected as the overall winner from the Domestic Garden Construction over £250K category, sponsored by Europlants UK. You can read the full story and find out more about this amazing scheme on page 8.

Graduate Gardeners had an incredible afternoon, also receiving a Principal and Special award for Best Design and Build for the same submission and won another Principal Award for a Private Garden, Battledown, Cheltenham in the Domestic Garden Construction between £60K and £100K category, sponsored by Johnsons of Whixley.

Four special awards presented

In total we bestowed four Special Awards at the ceremony, including Graduate Gardeners’ Best Design & Build, sponsored by Springbridge Direct.

Best First Time Entrant, sponsored by Makita UK, went to Bespoke Stone Walling for their work at a Private Residence in Gloucestershire. Their submission was from the Domestic Garden Construction between £100K and £250K category, sponsored by Van den Berk Nurseries.

The original walled kitchen garden of this large private estate had been derelict for many years. Working to a plan drafted by the current Head Gardener, and liaising closely with English Heritage, the contractor began by repairing the garden’s rear wall, ready for construction of a large greenhouse. In advance of constructing the raised beds using block work and dry-stone cladding, complex irrigation and rainwater harvesting systems were installed that would utilise run-off from the new greenhouse and paths. The timeless look of this extensive project has been achieved by the expert selection and use of reclaimed materials and stone recovered from the estate. This saved time and money and avoided potential delays in material supply resulting from the pandemic. During lockdowns, the contractor was able to work entirely independently and safely, completing the project to the client’s total satisfaction.

The Judges’ feedback was that the contractor responsible for this outstanding project is an artisan and craftsman in the truest sense of those words. This scheme is a direct reflection of his passion for and dedication to realising the vision of the client to the absolute best of their professional ability and doing so in testing times. It is an exemplar of professionalism of which all Association members should strive to achieve.

Best Use of Technology, sponsored by Overtec, went to a project in the Regeneration Scheme, Under £500K category. Carrier Landscapes won the award for the work they did at Kelham Hall, Nesfield Parterre de Broderie. There have only ever been two parterre restorations at Kelham Hall, one back in the 1950s and this second one by Carrier Landscapes.

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The parterre comprises mirror image compartments set off a central line with a clear central section. Using laser technology the contractor removed a maximum 75mm of soil to level the site. The parterre design was formed in steel, initially bent to shape in the factory. When this proved to be unsuccessful, the contractor worked with a steel fabricator to design a system to bend the steel on site to precise CAD measurements. The steel was then tap welded and carefully positioned. The shapes were then filled with gravel in some sections and soil in others, ready for bedding plants.

The final Special Award went to Bluestone Landscapes, who won Best Newcomer to BALI, sponsored by CED Stone Group, for their work at Lincoln Square. This fantastic project also took home a Principal Award in its category, Roof Gardens/Living Wall Installations/Residential Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping under £250K, sponsored by Bourne Amenity.

The client brief for this private penthouse apartment on the eighth floor of a new development in Lincoln’s Inn, London, was to create an oasis in the sky. The triple aspect outside spaces with glass facades enjoy stunning views of the City of London skyline and St Paul’s Cathedral and the challenge was to maintain these views whilst providing privacy. Space was created using carefully selected trees, shrubs, and planting in custom designed and constructed interconnecting planters, which form organic, flowing borders around the perimeter. A special lightweight soil serviced with a bespoke irrigation system ensures the planters look at their best despite the challenging climatic conditions present in this exposed environment. A breathtaking lighting scheme creates an unexpected ambience on the London skyline. The challenging logistics that accompany any high-level roof garden project in Central London were experienced here, but the results speak for themselves.

The Judges said that this was an outstanding piece of roof garden landscaping where the contractor has demonstrated design, construction and planting flair. Whilst the views from the penthouse apartment are stunning they take nothing from the beauty of this space and the quality of its realisation. This is an excellent scheme that promises great things from a new Association member.

29 Principal Awards bestowed on members

In the category Domestic Garden Construction Under £30K, sponsored by Hedges Direct, the Principal Award went to Vu Garden Design & Landscaping for their work at a Private Residence in Sittingbourne. The Principal Award in the Domestic Garden Construction between £30K and £60K category, sponsored by Ecoscape UK, went to Danscape Gardens for their work at Concrete & Cooking.

The next category was Domestic Garden Construction Between £100K – £250K. It was sponsored by Van den Berk Nurseries, with the Principal Award won by Landscape Associates for their Modern Family Garden.

Gavin Jones won the Principal Award for the company’s work at Teesside Park. They were presented with the award in the category of Soft Landscaping Construction (nondomestic) – Over £500K, sponsored by Landscape Institute.

SAiGE Longlife Decking sponsored the category Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) – Under £500K, where NAO Landscapes won a Principal Award for The Metro Building.

H Sivyer Transport sponsored the Hard Landscaping Construction (non-domestic) – Over £500K category. Gavin Jones won a second Principal Award, this time for their scheme, The Glebe.

The project received a special commendation from the judging panel. They said every aspect of this hard landscaping scheme was absolutely faultless with every corner of the site reflecting landscaping and project management excellence.

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What was particularly impressive and worthy of special commendation was that, despite the extensive threeyear duration of the contract, there was absolutely no sign whatsoever of contract fatigue or a slippage in standards by the contractor. This was a truly amazing achievement.

In the category Community Schools and Development, sponsored by MCM, the Principal award went to Wright Landscapes for the RHS Community and Learning Garden.

The contractor delivered the hard and soft landscaping for the Community Grow Garden, carrying out initial ground preparation, earthworks, excavation, and installation of a complex drainage system to counter poor natural drainage on the site. Large bespoke oak sleeper raised beds at different heights were constructed in a honeycomb design, and topsoil spread to all planting areas. Responsibility for each raised bed has been passed to a community group in the area.

Sponsored by AHS, the Regeneration Scheme Under £500K Principal Award was won by P1 Solutions for their work at The Palace of Holyrood House Physic Garden. P. Casey (Land Reclamation) won the Principal Award for their work at Worsley Delph in the category of Regeneration Scheme - Over £500K, sponsored by ICL Specialty Fertilisers.

Worsley Delph is a site of historical and international importance for its role in the world’s first Industrial Revolution. It is the start of 46 miles of tunnels that lead to a network of underground mines, and the start of the Bridgewater Canal, which was constructed in 1761 to take coal from the mines into Manchester and beyond. Over the years the area had fallen into disrepair. The works included the removal of 5,000m³ of silt from the Delph basin and waterways; construction of a new three-tiered, cantilevered viewing platform; restoration of Worsley Road bridge; installation of seating and interpretation features; enhanced pedestrian accessibility from Worsley Village, including resurfacing of paths; seating areas, signage, a new pedestrian refuge on Worsley Road and much more besides.

Reesink UK sponsored the category Grounds Maintenance – Free Public Access, where the Principal winner was Tony Benger Landscaping for their work on Gunwharf Quays. Nurture Landscapes won the Principal Award for the category Grounds Maintenance – Limited Public Access, sponsored by Toro UK for their work at Milton Park, Oxfordshire.

The category Grounds Maintenance – Private, was won by The CGM Group (East Anglia). It won the Principal Award sponsored by HL Services for the project at Eddington Development, Cambridge.

Easigrass sponsored the category Accredited Contractor and Accredited Designer Joint Submission, where the Principal Award was won by Adam White MBALI and Gerald Davies for the improvements made to Gosford Forest Nature Play Trial.

Located in Northern Ireland, Gosford Forest Nature Play Trail is a 3km woodland trail, constructed using naturally sustainable materials such as wood and rope. It is made up of five unique, age-related, play experiences in separate areas along the trail. The designer worked closely with the local community on the Play Trail’s design and use of materials so that it would blend sensitively into the environment.

The Interior Landscape – Installation Only category gave its Principal Award to The Plantman for The Botanica, Ditton Park. The Judges said this was a stunning scheme, with excellent plant selection and installation.

Nurture Landscapes won the Principal Award in the category Interior Landscape – Maintenance for the UK Trade Desk project.

Goddards Landscape Contractors

won the Principal Award for Canada Gardens, Wembley Park (E03). Vestre were the sponsors of the category, Roof Gardens/Living Wall Installations – Commercial Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping – Under £500K.

The category, Roof Gardens/Living Wall Installations – Commercial Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping – Over £500K was sponsored by Green-tree Topsoil. The Principal Award went to

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Geo Green Solutions for their scheme, Leeds Skelton Lake Motorway Services, Living Green Roof.

The Leeds Skelton Lake site was to provide a new services within the Leeds City region. The living roof was specified in accordance with the planning document’s landscape mitigation and green space strategy. This detailed the establishment of a wildflower meadow living roof to integrate the development within its surroundings and to contribute to the biodiversity/ecological value of the area. The facilities building includes a mix of sedum turfs and wildflower turfs, whilst the hotel building green roof is solely wildflower turf.

The Principal Award in Living Wall Installation (Exterior Only), went to YGS Landscapes for the Sherford Living Wall.

idverde won the Principal Award for Wildlife Ways in the Ground Control sponsored Nature Conservation and Biodiversity Enhancement category.

The Design Excellence – Overall Scheme under £50K category, was won by Andy Kirman MBALI. The project was the Contemporary Courtyard Garden and the sponsor of the category was Talasey.

The category, Design Excellence – Overall Scheme Between £50K – £100K, was sponsored by Landform Consultants. The Principal Award was bestowed upon Rosemary Coldstream MBALI for Buddha’s Garden.

The judges thought having the vision and artistic talent to create a design is one thing, backing that vision up with detailed plans and drawings that provide the contractor with everything they need to realise that vision is quite another. The designer’s technical expertise and ability to create outstanding plans and drawings is also to be fully applauded and recognised in this scheme; this was exemplary work.

The Design Excellence – Overall Scheme Over £100K category, sponsored by Polypipe Civils and Green Urbanisation, saw the Principal Award given to Gavin McWilliam MBALI for the West London Garden.

The International – International Members Only category was sponsored by Ransomes Jacobsen and hotly contested. The Principal Award was won by DDON Planning and Design Inc. for the Nanchang Jinmao Residential Show Flats.

The category Supplier Exceptional Service, sponsored by idverde, had its Principal Award won by ICL Specialty Fertilisers.

In the employer section, the category Employer Excellence – Turnover under £2.5M gave its Principal Award to Garden Club London.

Finally, the Employer Excellence Turnover over £2.5M category sponsored by Fresh Horticultural Careers awarded the Principal to Ground Control.

A copy of the Award Winners brochure, containing all the winners on the day, is included with this edition of Landscape News. If you would like a digital copy, please contact emily.feeney@bali.org.uk. Entries for the 46th National Landscape Awards 2022 will open in late February, early March 2022. We look forward to receiving your entries and celebrating with you all again next year.

Photo captions 1. Grand Award winners, Graduate Gardeners ecstatic about receiving the Grand Award for

Private Garden, Cheltenham 2. Robert Field, Lifetime membership recipient 3. BBC Radio Five Live’s Colin Murray 4. Carrier Landscapes, winners of Best Use of

Technology 5. Bespoke Stone Walling, winners of Best First

Time Entrant

6. Bluestone Landscapes, winners of Best

Newcomer to BALI

7. Guests entering the Great Room at JW

Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel for the 2021 Awards

8. Rosemary Coldstream with sponsor

Mark Gregory, Landform Consultants 9. Richard Gill, Sales Director of Headline

Sponsor, Green-tech 10. Nurture Landscapes, winners of the

Principal Award in the Interior Landscape

Maintenance category 11. Employer Excellence – Turnover over £2.5M winner Ground Control

12. Gavin McWilliam MBALI going up to receive his award for Design Excellence in the over £100K category 13. The Association team from Landscape House