The Society of Garden Designers (SGD) has announced the winners at its annual awards at an event in London. It celebrated projects from across the industry, with some of the biggest names in garden design present. The winners included Sarah Eberle, McWilliam Studio, Andy Sturgeon, Stefano Marinaz and Adolfo Harrison. We round up the winners.
The SGD Garden of the Year Award
Winner: Sarah Eberle
The most prestigious of the SGD Awards was presented to Sarah Eberle FSGD for an Anglo-Japanese 'strolling garden' in Oxfordshire. It was designed to create a sense of peace, meditation, and immersion in the healing complexities of nature.
Designed with water, paths and rocks and an abundance of naturalistic planting, the contemplative garden was cleverly conceived to feel very intimate with beautiful vignettes throughout.
The judges described the project as 'a garden of national importance' and said it would surely become 'one of the most important gardens in England'. The judges felt the garden had 'a confident maturity' that reflected Sarah Eberle's skill and expertise in creating such an extraordinary space.
The Judges' Award
Winner: Haruko Seki
Japanese designer Haruko Seki wowed the judges with this ingenious garden that transformed a vacant London parking plot into a beautiful, tranquil space. The garden is made of 13 moveable planters and can be viewed, like a painting, from inside a London apartment. The judges praised the designer's brilliant design skills, clever use of materials and the exquisite planting to create 'a beautiful tableau in a forgotten space'.
The People’s Choice Award
Winner: Colm Joseph
The only award to be determined by public vote went to Colm Joseph for an imaginative walled garden in Suffolk. The judges were impressed by the skilful modulation of the garden over three interconnecting spaces and remarked on how beautifully they flowed as you transitioned through each of them. They also commented on the 'expertly handled planting' that provides interest throughout the year, saying it was 'definitely a garden you would want to live with'.
The Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner: Dan Pearson
The SGD Lifetime Achievement Award was presented this year to designer, author and Fellow of the SGD, Dan Pearson FSGD.
SGD Chairman, Andrew Duff MSGD said: "Dan Pearson’s contribution to garden and landscape design is nothing short of extraordinary. His intuitive approach to working with the natural environment has not only transformed countless landscapes but also redefined the way we think about the relationship between design and nature. From his early work to globally celebrated projects like the Tokachi Millennium Forest in Japan and his Best in Show garden at RHS Chelsea in 2015, Dan has continually demonstrated a rare ability to create spaces that are as ecologically significant as they are visually stunning.
"This Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledges not just his incredible portfolio but also his enduring influence on the profession as well as his significant contributions to the Society of Garden Designers. As a long-standing member, he has inspired countless designers through his talks at SGD conferences, generously sharing his knowledge and showing us all the value of working sensitively with the land and embracing a sustainable, thoughtful approach to design. His work is a powerful reminder of the role our profession plays in connecting people to the natural world, and his legacy will continue to shape the future of garden and landscape design for many years to come."
Small Residential Garden Award
Winner: Adolfo Harrison
Judges called the small garden designed by Adolfo Harrison 'a completely delightful garden with a great sense of luxury.'
Roof, Podium or Raised Courtyard Award
Winner: Adolfo Harrison
This award was also awarded to Adolfo Harrison. His ingenious multi-layered roof garden was described by the judges as 'a clever and cunning design that has transformed an awkward space into an impressive garden'.
Medium Residential Garden
Winner: Andy Sturgeon
Returning from his success at the 2022 SGD Awards where he took the prestigious 'Garden of the Year' Award, Andy Sturgeon FSGD received the Award for Medium Residential Garden this year, for the transformation of an inaccessible and unusable sloped site on the Isle of Wight. The garden, described by the judges as 'an exquisite piece of work with skilful detailing', now features winding paths leading down and across the slopes and curved retaining walls like scattered petals to create level seating areas, shelter and shade, surrounded by lush Mediterranean planting.
Garden Jewel Award
Winner: Stefano Marinaz
Stefano Marinaz one this award with his 'Edgy Woodland Wonderland' garden. The judges called the plot 'a quirky, playful garden with a huge personality', adding that this 'joyous urban space' offered a great response to climate-change issues.
Big Ideas, Small Budget Award
Winner: Lucy Conochie and Jane Heather
Newcomers Lucie Conochie & Jane Heather bagged this award for a well considered garden that the judges said was 'a great illustration of how to treat a tiny space.'
lucyconochiedesign.com
janeheather.co.uk
International Residential Landscapes & Garden
Winner: Peter Berg
An impressive rock garden in South West Germany received the award for best International Residential Landscapes & Garden. Created by Peter Berg, the garden is designed to capture and enhance the breathtaking views of the Moselle valley within which it is set. The judges praised the designer's 'masterful use of materials' which mirrored the geological origins of the rocks and the 'skilful design' which allowed the garden to feel perfectly balanced within the surrounding landscape.
Healing or Learning Landscapes & Garden
St Mary's Peace Garden, designed by McWilliam Studio under the guidance of Gavin McWiliam MSGD was hailed as 'a great asset to the local school' and had brought much needed greenery into an otherwise harsh environment.
Public Realm Landscapes & Gardens Award
Also designed by McWilliam Studio under the guidance of Gavin McWiliam MSGD, this award went to a peaceful garden surrounding a contemporary temple in Hampshire. The judges were particularly impressed by the inclusion of a series of Chakra spaces along the main axis of the garden that fostered a sense of calm and wellness and remarked on the 'balanced planting' that softened the architectural features of the building.
New Designer Award
Winner: Tabitha Rigden
Tabitha Rigden was named best New Designer for the Hestia Garden at The Plough in Shiplake Oxfordshire - the first pub garden to win a SGD Award. The judges thought the garden was a perfect example of how creative thinking and investment could transformed a grey space into a welcoming destination for visitors, while praising the great use of local views, planting and materials.
Built Landscape Award
Winner: Claire Greener
The Built Landscape Award went to Claire Greener for her Folly Garden in Kent, which the judges described as a 'very complex and sophisticated piece of design for a steep and challenging site.'
Design for the Environment Award
Winner: Sally Bower
Sally Bower's wildlife rain garden picked up the Design for the Environment Award. The overall composition and recessive use of hard landscaping materials throughout was particularly pleasing to the judges and they thought the garden was both a safe and engaging place for children to play.
Virtual Landscape Design Award
Winner: Barbara Samitier, Moss Studio
Barbara Samitier MSGD of Moss Studio won the newly named Virtual Landscape Design Award. The judges praised the choice of imagery and graphics that they felt 'clearly captured the spirituality of the project'.
SGD Student Awards
Winners: Kate Hyslop, Bronte Seller, Holly Knight
Three standout designers student projects were selected for SGD Student Awards this year. Kate Hyslop, a student at the London College of Garden Design was presented with the award for best Public Realm project; in the Domestic Design category, the top award was presented to Bronte Seller also from the London College of Garden Design. Holly Knight, a student from the KLC School of Design, was named winner in the Sustainable Garden Design category.
The categories were judged by SGD Fellows David Stevens, Sarah Morgan and Juliet Sargeant and Tom Massey MSGD, who was one of the first recipients of the student awards back in 2014.
New identity for the Society of Garden Designers
The Society of Garden Designers is rebranding itself as the Society of Garden + Landscape Designers (SGLD) from 10 February 2025.
The new name and accompanying rebrand have been developed to better reflect the diverse and evolving nature of the Society, as well as the size and scope of projects that its members undertake.