Every year, there are many new and beautiful gardens created, but few are accomplished enough to win a gong at the lauded annual awards of The Society of Garden and Landscape Designers (SGLD). The top professional organisation for working landscape and garden designers in the UK has announced the champions for 2026 at its gala event in London.
It celebrated projects from across the industry, from small residential gardens to large public spaces, with some of the biggest names in garden design in attendance. The winners included Tomoko Kawauchi, Miria Harris and Tom Stuart-Smith.
The winning gardens in pictures
The SGLD Garden of the Year Award
Small Residential Landscapes Award
Built Landscape Design Award
Winner: Tomoko Kawauchi MSGLD
The most prestigious of the SGLD Awards - the Garden of the Year Award - was presented to Tomoko Kawauchi MSGLD, for a family garden which was described as "an absolute masterpiece" by the judges.
Tomoko's redesign of the garden adds a softer, more natural character to both the side and rear spaces. English stone, clay pavers, and generous planting have replaced the former hardscape, while a once-forgotten side garden becomes a gravel parterre with multi-stem trees, woodland perennials, and raised kitchen beds.
The judges described how the garden offered "an immediate sense of immersion with skilful transitions between the different planting areas". As a triple award winner on the night, the garden was recognised in several additional categories including the Small Residential Landscapes & Gardens and Built Landscape Design categories.
The Judges' Award and the Garden Jewel Award
Winner: Adolfo Harrison MSGLD
A shady garden across multiple levels with 'floating' terraces that shelter dining and lounge areas beneath a mature lime tree received both the Garden Jewel Award and the highly coveted Judges’ Award this year.
Designed by Adolfo Harrison MSGLD, the garden is designed with woodland-inspired evergreens that, creating a lush and immersive space that blurs the line between indoors and out. The judges praised the designer's careful balance of space, excellent detailing, and strong construction detailing saying: "A very challenging site has been handled with exceptional skill, with thoughtful boundary treatments completing this highly accomplished garden."
The People's Choice Award
Winner: Fi Boyle MSGLD
The People’s Choice Award was presented to Fi Boyle MSGLD for her transformation of a steep, previously unusable site into an inspiring tiered garden. The judges praised her skillful use of terracing, constructed with stone reclaimed from the site, to form a series of inviting gathering spaces, each with its own distinct character.
International Award
Winner: Gonzalo Morillo MSGLD
A contemporary roof terrace for a townhouse in Madrid received the award for best International Residential Landscapes & Garden.
Designed by Gonzalo Morillo MSGLD of Locus Landscapes, the project was celebrated by the judges as "an outstanding roof garden that is stylish, sophisticated, and beautifully executed". They highlighted the terrace’s harmonious and intimate social spaces as well as the elegant architectural features, described as perfectly balanced and sympathetic to the surroundings.
You may also like:
- Serge Hill: Tom and Sue Stuart-Smith's unique project
- The Talking Gardens podcast with Tom Stuart-Smith
- A Kentish Weald garden designed by Tom Stuart-Smith
Large Residential Garden Award
Winner: Miria Harris
Miria Harris MSGLD won the highly competitive Large Residential Garden Award for her transformation of a neglected country garden into a captivating and thoughtfully designed space. The judges praised the garden as “very engaging and thoughtful,” noting its harmonious flow and describing it as “robustly considered, and clearly loved by the client.” This is the first time she has received an SGLD Award.
Best Healing or Learning Landscape & Garden Award
Winner: Nicholas Atherton MSGLD
Nicholas Atherton MSGLD was recognised with the Best Healing or Learning Landscape & Garden award for his design of Merstham School’s outdoor spaces. Created to encourage pupils to spend more time in nature to enhance psychological wellbeing, the garden was hailed as “truly inspiring.” The judges highlighted its vibrant planting, carefully considered layout, and strong visual cohesion, noting that it gave the school “real character, fostering curiosity, wellbeing, and a lasting connection with nature.”
Public Realm Landscape & Garden Award
Winner: Rob Beswick
Rob Beswick, received the Best Public Realm Landscape & Garden award for Fidelity Heart Zone, a contemporary landscape designed to anchor a corporate office campus. The judges commended the "generous and confident” planting, which felt created a sense of abundance while softening the surrounding brutalist architecture. They concluded that the project was “a garden that will only get better with time.”
Design for the Environment Award
Winner: Kristina Clode MSGLD
Kristina Clode MSGLD has reclaimed the Design for the Environment Award, earning her third victory in this category since its inception. The judges praised the garden as “thoughtful, accessible, and environmentally sensitive,” highlighting its striking planting, extensive meadows, and careful retention of original features that together create a sustainable and captivating landscape.
You can see ore images and read more about this garden in our full feature on the design here
kristinaclodegardendesign.co.uk
New Designer Award
Winner: Nicholas Morton
Following his previous success in the SGLD Student Awards, Nicholas Morton has won this year’s New Designer Award for his imaginative restoration of a coastal town garden. The judges praised the project as “a delightful, well-planted garden that overcomes challenging conditions with skill', while remarking on the thoughtful planting, high-quality materials, and clever use of budget.
Planting Design Award and Medium Residential Garden Award
Winner: Barbara Samitier MSGLD of Moss Studio
Double award-winner Barbara Samitier MSGLD of Moss Studio was recognised in both the Planting Design and the best Medium Residential Garden categories for her ‘Dulwich Pollinators’ project. The judges praised the garden’s simple yet effective layout, its attractive planting and thoughtful arrangement that creates intimate, inviting spaces. They also highlighted the lush plant mix, well-considered seating areas, and overall charm of the garden.
You can see ore images and read more about this garden in our full feature on the design here
Virtual Design Award
Winner: Holly Birtles
Returning designer Holly Birtles scooped the Virtual Design Award for her Quarry House project The well-planned and thoughtful scheme impressed the judges who remarked on Holly's strong understanding of site analysis and sustainability, saying it was a "clever design with a good environmental approach."
Significant Impact Award
Winner: Mandy Buckland MSGLD
A new award was introduced this year - the Significant Impact Award to honour a project that speaks to issues of current relevance or demonstrates broader value to society, culture, or the environment.
With a wealth of new residential developments coming onto the market under the Government's target of building 1.5 million homes in England by 2029, the judges were inspired to grant the Significant Impact Award to Mandy Buckland MSGLD for a new-build property in Kent.
The judges described the project as “a fantastic example of what can be achieved with a new build home,” highlighting the remarkable transformation it delivered for the clients.
SGLD Student Awards
Winners: Laura Bushnell, Grace Hugh-Jones, Michael Kieck and Robbie Avey
Four student projects were selected for this year’s SGLD Student Awards, showcasing what the judges described as the very best of emerging design talent.
The Domestic Garden Awards were presented to Laura Bushnell (Small Garden), based at Matthew Childs Design and Grace Hugh-Jones (Large Garden), both from the London College of Garden Design. The Public Realm Award was awarded to Michael Kieck, also of the London College of Garden Design, while Robbie Avey from the KLC School of Design received the Design for the Environment Award.
Two further projects received commendations: North End House by Helen Swan from the KLC School of Design and the Nurture Fertility Clinic by Sally Jane Robinson from Cornwall College.
The Student Award categories were judged by SGLD Fellows David Stevens, Sarah Morgan and Tom Massey, along with new judge Tomoko Kawauchi MSGLD.
matthewchildsdesign.co.uk ; gracehughjonesgardens ; helenswanstudio ; sally_robinson_planting
SGLD Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner: Tom Stuart-Smith
The SGLD Lifetime Achievement Award—an honour given each year to an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to the landscape and garden design profession, was also announced at the event. This prestigious award, presented by the Council of the Society of Garden + Landscape Designers, was awarded to garden designer, landscape architect, author and SGLD Fellow, Tom Stuart-Smith OBE FSGLD.
Commenting on the award, SGLD Chairman Andrew Duff MSGLD said: “Over many decades, Tom has created gardens of rare beauty and intelligence, seamlessly blending naturalism with modernity, reimagining historic landscapes, and transforming private and public spaces alike. His work—from intimate walled gardens to major projects for institutions such as the Royal Horticultural Society—has inspired generations of designers and gardeners. Through his refined planting, ecological sensitivity, and timeless design philosophy, Tom has helped elevate garden design as a vital art form and championed the highest standards of creativity and professionalism.”
Details of all the winning gardens can be found on the SGLD website.
