Held at the stunning Chelsea Physic Garden yesterday afternoon, award winning teams stretching across the UK from Fife to Somerset, came together for a celebration and presentation hosted by the director of open spaces at the City of London, Sue Ireland.
The event saw head gardeners Jim Buckland and Sarah Wain from West Dean Gardens pick up the Horticulture Week Custodian Award for the most exceptional contribution to the management of parks, gardens or tree schemes.
A husband and wife team, Buckland and Wain have dedicated a lifetime to revitalising the 92-acre gardens which had suffered years of neglect following their heyday in the Edwardian era.
Winners were presented with their certificates by Neville Stein, representing industry charity and Horticulture Week Custodian Awards partner Perennial.
The awards were judged by independent panel of judges including Tony Arnold, chair of the Professional Gardeners Guild, Sally Drury, technical editor of Horticulture Week, Andrew Gill, president of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and board member of the Parks Alliance, David Lambert of the Parks Agency and Dr Sidney Sullivan, independent consultant.
Full write ups of all the award-winning projects and high commendations will feature in an upcoming edition of Horticulture Week magazine.
Horticulture Week Custodian Award Winners in Full
Best Urban Park Initiative
Rethinking Burnley's Parks - Burnley Borough Council
Best Sports Grounds Initiative
Forest Sports Zone - Nottingham City Council
Best Gardens or Arboretum Team
Audley End, English Heritage
Best Urban Parks Team
Nottingham City Council Parks and Open Spaces Team
Best Grounds Care Team
Leighton-Linslade Town Council
Best Parks Restoration/Development Project
Watford Parks Improvement Programme 2013-2015 - Watford Borough Council with Ground Control & Southern Green
Best Parks Partnership
Fife Council
Best Gardens Restorations / Development Project
The Far End - Bodnant Garden National Trust
Best Gardens Partnership
Chiswick House and Gardens Trust with Gavin Jones Limited
Best Amenity Woodland / Forest Initiative
Castlemilk Park Project
Cassiltoun Housing Association with Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Housing Association, Forestry Commission Scotland, Jeely Piece Playzone
Best Community / Volunteer Initiative
50 Trees for 50 Soldiers - Hugglescote and Donington le Heath Heritage Society in conjunction with Hugglescote and Donington le Heath Parish Council
Horticulture Week Custodian Award
Jim Buckland and Sarah Wain - West Dean Gardens
Highly Commended
Best Urban Parks Team - Highly Commended
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Best Gardens or Arboretum Team - Highly Commended
Blenheim Palace
Best Gardens Restorations / Development Project - Highly Commended
Reviving Trentham - St Modwen
