As we sat down last Friday evening waiting for this year’s APL awards to kick off, we were disappointed not to be in London as it is a day that the team really enjoys.

In fact it was the last live event we attended in 2020, (not then realising quite such a momentous occasion it would become) and we’re now looking forward to when we will all gather for another spectacular day in 2022.

Back to this year’s virtual event, (bearing in mind we have sat through many virtual awards in the last 12 months and even hosted a couple) we have to say this was truly the best we’ve seen so far: the product, the setting and the hosting were all first class.

James Alexander Sinclair and Phil Tremayne kept the awards moving along smoothly, and an excellent and thought provoking speech by APL Chair David Sewell meant our attention was focused right the way through.

The other element was the quality and the standard of entries, which has improved significantly over the years. We saw lots of new and different companies involved as well as some of the quality companies that have been building gardens to a very high standard for many years.

It was also great to see the winners commenting on their win via recorded footage, and looking rightly proud of their achievements. Well done to all shortlisted companies and huge congratulations to the overall winners.

APL Awards Winners

There are a few winners that I would like to highlight, Landform Consultants winner of the Supreme Award for the Cottonmill Spa at Sopwell House, an amazing project (designed by Ann-Marie Powell) where the quality of the detailing was outstanding and the build finished to perfection.

Also to Ross Conquest and his team at Conquest Creative Spaces for the HTA Benevolent Fund Award, which is specifically given to companies that go above and beyond to support their local community. Ross and his team designed and built the project ‘A Garden for Josh’ celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity, a special garden for the Taylor-Johnson family whose 5-year old son Joshua has severe complex physical and neurological disabilities.

This project particularly demonstrates the whole of the landscape industry with local landscapers and suppliers pulling together for a charitable purpose which gave a family that was in need a quality and useable outdoor space.

A very enjoyable way to spend a Friday evening, thanks and congratulations to Phil, David and the APL team.