The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) annual awards 2023 ceremony, sponsored by Bradstone, took place on Friday 17 March at the Brewery in London. Hosted by garden designer and TV presenter Diarmuid Gavin, the event recognised and celebrated the outstanding landscaping carried out by members of the APL.
JJH Landscapes & Construction Ltd took home the top award for their project: The Escarpment Garden, designed by Adam Vetere (see main image). The client requested a contemporary courtyard design for the garden which was beautiful, fun, and welcoming. They wanted a nature friendly approach whilst providing space and areas in the garden for eating, entertaining, relaxing and reading. It had to be sustainable in terms of both the materials and plants chosen and positively add to the biodiversity and ecology of the rest of the site.
The Judges commented: “This is an impressive and well-executed garden, that gives the owners more space they could have imagined by using clever design and fantastic construction.”
Phil Tremayne, APL General Manager commented “Congratulations to all the winners, the standard was so high this year. To win any medal at The APL awards now is a real achievement. It’s hard to know how much better it can get, but I’m sure it will, and I can’t wait to see what’s on offer for 2024!”
This year’s judges were Richard Barnard from Hillier Landscapes (Chief judge), Bob Sweet – Horticultural director at River Street Events, Robin Templar Williams from Robin Williams and Associates, Rupert Keys from TASK (Training Academy for Skills and Knowledge), Rod Winrow from Garden House Design, and Phil Tremayne – APL General Manager.
Award winners included:
| Category | Company | Project | Award |
| APL Awards 2023 Supreme Award | JJH Landscapes & Construction Ltd | The Escarpment Garden | Supreme Winner |
| Project Value under £20,000 | Nordland Landscapes Ltd | E20 Pollinator Garden | Best in Category |
| Conquest Creative Spaces | Windsor Pocket Garden | Gold | |
| Jacq and Wills Landscapes | A Contemporary Dry Garden | Gold | |
| Kebur Landscape Division and Mistletoe Garden Design | Clifton Gardens Sanctuary | Gold | |
| Fenton Gardens Ltd | Omega Garden | Silver Merit | |
| Landscapes 4 Living Ltd | Mcintosh | Silver | |
| Roger Gladwell Landscapes | Under the Big Oak Tree | Silver | |
| New Look Landscapes Ltd | Roper Crescent | Bronze | |
| Project Value £20,000 – £35,000 | Richard Adam Landscapes Ltd | The Courtyard Garden | Best in Category |
| Frogheath Landscapes | The Water Tower | Gold | |
| The Secret Landscape Company Ltd | Breeze house garden design | Silver Merit | |
| TAW Garden landscapes Ltd | West Street | Silver Merit | |
| Roger Gladwell Landscapes | House on the hill | Silver Merit | |
| Aura Landscapes Ltd | 53 Davids Lane | Silver Merit | |
| Karl Harrison Landscapes Ltd | Stag Lane | Silver | |
| HG Landscapes Woburn Ltd | Moorhen Way | Silver | |
| Essex Garden Designs | Courtyard Garden | Silver | |
| Karl Harrison Landscapes Ltd | Joiners Lane | Bronze | |
| Project Value £35,000 – £50,000 | Nordland Landscapes Ltd | Camden Studios | Best in Category |
| Frogheath Landscapes | Vegetable and Cutting Garden | Gold | |
| Frogheath Landscapes | Lewes Courtyard | Gold | |
| Gardenscapes | Hill – Hallowes Close | Gold | |
| Landscapia Ltd | Tranquil Retreat | Gold | |
| Harlow Garden Services | The Long Garden | Silver Merit | |
| Roger Gladwell Landscapes | The Rille | Silver | |
| Project Value £50,000-£75,000 | County Garden Management | Kitchen Garden at the Windmill | Best in Category |
| Essex Garden Designs | Walled Garden | Silver Merit | |
| Gardenscapes | Greenacre – Hallowes Close | Silver Merit | |
| Roger Gladwell Landscapes | Glennie’s Garden | Silver Merit | |
| Earthstone Landscapes Ltd | Mulberry Barn | Silver Merit | |
| Essex Garden Designs | Social Garden | Bronze | |
| Project Value £75,000-£100,000 | JJH Landscapes & Construction Ltd | Escarpment Garden | Supreme winner |
| Gadd Brothers Trees and Landscapes | Westhorpe | Gold | |
| Conquest Creative Spaces | Kipling Gardens | Gold | |
| Transform Landscapes Design and Construction | Frensham Retreat | Silver Merit | |
| Project Value £100,000-£175,000 | Cobham Court Landscaping | Iona | Best in Category |
| Premier Gardens | North Avenue | Gold | |
| Roger Gladwell Landscapes | The Manor House | Gold | |
| TAW Garden Landscapes | Wychwood House | Gold | |
| The Botanical Gardener | Charlwood Road | Silver Merit | |
| HG Landscapes Woburn Ltd | Glebe House | Silver | |
| Goldenstones Gardening | Days View | Bronze | |
| Project Value £175,000-£250,000 | Esse Landscapes | Ferndale | Best in Category |
| Slate Grey Design Ltd | Rogues Hill House | Gold | |
| Habitat Landscapes Ltd | Beech House | Silver Merit | |
| The Secret Landscape Company Ltd | Longridge House | Silver Merit | |
| Project Value over £250,000 | AS Landscapes Design & Build Ltd | AS Show Garden | Best in Category |
| Garden Feature | Esse Landscapes | Ashfold Grange Koi Pond | Best in Category |
| Andy Lewis Landscapes | The Egg | Gold | |
| Gartenart Swimming Ponds | Swimming pond in East Sussex | Gold | |
| Conquest Spaces | Oak Framed Outdoor Dining | Silver Merit | |
| Habitat Landscapes Ltd | Arcadia Rill | Silver Merit | |
| Soft Landscaping | Adam Vetere Landscape & Garden Design | The contemporary courtyard garden | Best in Category |
| Bushy Business Ltd | Waterside Tranquillity | Gold | |
| We Love Plants | Windmill Bank | Gold | |
| Wright Landscapes Ltd | Private Cheshire Garden | Gold | |
| Hard Landscaping | Landscapia Ltd | Metropolitan Elegance | Best in Category |
| Slate Grey Design Ltd | Rogues Hill House | Gold | |
| JJH Landscape & Construction Ltd | Contemporary Courtyard Garden | Gold | |
| Gardenscapes | Greenacre – Hallowes Close | Gold | |
| Gardenscapes | Hill – Hallowes Close | Gold | |
| Aura Landscapes | Keppels | Gold | |
| AS Landscapes Design & Build Ltd | Merryhills | Bronze | |
| Overall Design & Build | Gardenscapes | Hill – Hallowes Close | Best in Category |
| Harlow Garden Services | The Long Garden | Silver | |
| Roger Gladwell Landscapes | Retirement Garden | Silver | |
| Commercial Garden | Wright Landscapes Ltd | Black Friar Pub | Best in Category |
| Roger Gladwell Landscapes | Suffolk Food Hall | Silver Merit | |
| Commercial Maintenance | HM Gardens Ltd | Rainbow | Best in Category |
| Domestic Maintenance | Jacq and Wills Landscapes | Caldrees Manor | Best in Category |
| APL Designer of the Year | We Love Plants | Bay Tree House | Best in Category |
| Adam Vetere Landscape & Garden Design | The contemporary courtyard garden | Gold | |
| Adam Vetere Landscape & Garden Design | The Escarpment Garden | Gold | |
| Bramley Apple Garden Design | Cottage Courtyard | Gold | |
| Harrogate Garden Design / Block Yorkshire | Mediterranean Haven | Silver Merit | |
| HollandGreen Landscapes | Longridge House | Silver Merit | |
| Tina Vallis Garden Design | Stone Sea | Silver Merit | |
| APL Collaboration | Adam Vetere Landscape & Garden Design and JJH Landscapes | The contemporary courtyard garden | Best in Category |
| Habitat Landscapes Ltd and Mike Long Garden Design | Arcadian Escape | Gold | |
| Shrub & Stone and Darren Hawkes Landscapes | RG9 | Gold | |
| HollandGreen Landscapes / The Secret Landscape Company | Longridge House | Silver Merit | |
| Raine Garden Design Ltd and Bushy Business | New Build Transformation | Silver | |
| Special Judges Award | Gartenart Swimming Ponds | Swimming pond in East Sussex | Special Judges Award |
| APL Rising Star | Mihkel Kajanus | Winner | |
| APL Company of the year | Mustard Seed Gardens | Winner | |
| APL Supplier of the year | Green-tech | Winner |