Launched at FutureScape 2023, the Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards highlight the future of landscaping.

These awards are on a mission to showcase the most important innovation and initiatives across the UK landscaping sector, from design, to construction, to product supply and manufacturing. We look for great stories of environmental impact reduction and of those working towards a more sustainable future for the planet.

We caught up with some of the inaugural winners to find out the benefits of entering these awards what we can expect to see from them over the coming year.

Read the full article in the May issue of Pro Landscaper Magazine.

Name: Stuart Booth

Company: Water Gems (Alba) Limited

Role: Company director and head of water projects

Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Award 2023: Sustainability and Biodiversity Domestic Build Project and Project Awards Special Feature under £35,000

• How has winning the award benefitted your business?

It has been a great boost of confidence as we have just undergone a complete employee takeover, going from the previous directors to a team made up of three members of the management. These two award-winning projects were designed and built by myself and our team.

• Have you noticed any differences?

The win has created an appetite to excel, succeed and showcase what we can do.

• Why did you enter the Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards?

We were invited and very proud of the four projects that we entered. We entered four awards and received two category wins!

• Why do you believe the awards are so important?

It is key to celebrate success and for everyone in the team to have their hard work and quality recognised by the wider industry but more importantly for me it is about showing how gardens and landscapes can be about more than just aesthetics and can encourage a harmony between nature and our human needs. We need to appreciate our place in the environment.

• What have the biggest challenges been across the last year?

All in all, we have had a very successful year. The succession plan was an exciting challenge with new responsibilities and fresh ideas but the challenge of balancing this change with existing projects was interesting.

• What do you think is the reason behind these challenges?

The fact that the company has been built up over 30 years, with a lot of passion and care; that leaves big shoes to fill.

• What are you most looking forward to for the year ahead?

Seeing everyone within the team getting the opportunities to step up and develop is great. As a team we are looking forward to working with new and existing clients in the creation of inspiring water features and wetlands that will enhance biodiversity and to see the satisfaction wildlife brings to people and how this in turn boasts their enjoyment and mood.

•  Any exciting upcoming projects?

As always, we have a wide variety of different projects coming up from small garden ponds to wetland creation and boardwalks, all of which have sustainability and the natural environment at their core.

• Any new developments within the company?

As mentioned, the company is under new directorship from the start of 2024, having been handed over after many years of success from Nick and Annie Benge. We plan to continue their ethos of working with nature and create beautiful environments for people to enjoy.

Our management team is very enthusiastic and looking forward to the challenges ahead and has the resource of a fantastic squad behind us which is brilliant!

• Would you recommend entering an award with Pro Landscaper?

I would definitely recommend entering the awards as it is a great way to get involved in the wider community in the landscape industry and other related professions.