Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL), Rachel Bailey’s winning design for Gardeners’ World Live, entitled Where There’s Water, There’s Life, aims to demonstrate how thoughtful landscaping can sustain life, promote biodiversity and create beautiful, functional outdoor spaces. Garden highlights include a rain garden, a decked walkway elevated over a pond, and a green roofed pergola covering a decked seating area.
Show Garden assessment panel Chair, Roger Platts, said: “In every area, this garden excels. The design, construction, landscaping and planting are of a very high standard and the garden has a lovely ambience. It demonstrates water collection and the green roof pergola is both imaginative and practical. There were some real moments of joy for the assessors as we discovered examples of the team’s attention to detail. I’m thrilled that visitors will see an exceptional garden which showcases the standards and skills that the APL demands of its member companies.”
On winning the Best Show Garden award, Bailey said: “This is an amazing result for our team, I’m thrilled. It shows what can be achieved when professional designers and landscapers work together from concept stage to bringing a garden to life. I’m grateful to the Association of Professional Landscapers and Society of Garden Designers for their support.”
Dan Ryan from Design It Landscapes said: “It’s a great thing to have achieved this for the APL and for Rachel. We’ve had a great team of APL member companies and suppliers providing behind the scenes support.”
Phil Tremayne, General Manager of the Association of Professional Landscapers said: “This 30th Anniversary Garden has blown us away and I’m thrilled to bits with this award. Collaboration between professional designers and landscapers is something we promote at the APL and we’ve had some great support with the garden from APL members.”
2025 Gardeners’ World Live Awards
Best Showcase Garden: ‘Just a Garden …’ by Derbyshire designer, Carleen Osborne. This pollinator friendly garden is inspired by the designer’s love for plants and the belief that gardening should be achievable and sustainable. Its planting is tailored to local microclimates whilst leaf litter, a log pile and hedge offer shelter for small mammals and amphibians.
Best Beautiful Border: North Yorkshire garden designer, Anita Rose, for ‘The One to Three’ Border. The garden is designed to foster connections between oneself, other people and nature. Seating for three encourages reflection, a seat for two invites shared moments, and a single seat under a tree offers quiet contemplation. Its message is that it’s easy as 1,2,3 for visitors to replicate its look in their own gardens to cultivate calm and connection.
Best BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Subscriber Border: First-time garden designer, Ellen Tozer from We Say Grow in Bristol. ‘The Golden Hour’, is a restful space to reconnect and escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. Inspired by the golden hours of sunrise and sunset, it features warm, earthy tones in flowers and foliage with relaxing amber and orange hues. Wild, loose planting encourages a carefree, informal approach
Best Interpretation of the Theme : Jan O’Brien from Lancashire for ‘Willow Moments and Memories’, inspired by the work of Willow, a charity providing special days for seriously ill young adults. O’Brien is a beneficiary of Willow’s support and her Border features a river of memories with everlasting flowers, leading to a tranquil spot by a willow tree.
Winner of the Best Work and Retrain As a Gardener Scheme (WRAG) Border: Isabel Sabine from Winchester for ‘Apple Core Values’ which explores how neighbours can create mini orchards in small gardens, fostering community spirit through planning, selecting apple varieties and sharing recipes and apple juice.
Lucy Tremlett, Event Director at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World Live, said: “2025 is an astonishing year for BBC Gardeners’ World Live with more than 45 show gardens and Borders entered. Our illustrious assessors are a formidable bunch and it’s no mean feat to impress them. These awards recognise outstanding talent, creative vison and phenomenal commitment to bring a garden design to life, all for the enjoyment of our visitors. We know they’ll be taking home so many new ideas to try in their own gardens.”
BBC Gardeners’ World Live takes place at the NEC Birmingham from 12-15 June.
