Society of Garden Designers announce new awards
To reward outstanding achievement in the garden and landscape design profession, the Society of Garden Designers (SGD) is launching a new, annual awards programme, in association with Lorenz Von Ehrens.
Covering all aspects of design, from private domestic gardens to engaging public spaces, the SGD Awards are dedicated to rewarding excellence among landscape and garden designers.
The Awards will be open to Members of the SGD only with the majority open to Fellows (FSGD) and fully registered members (MSGD) of the Society.
In addition, four of the Awards will be open to pre-registered Members and there will be a single Award for student members.
A panel of judges will be drawn from across the sector and will include a core judging panel, consisting of landscape architect, author and course leader Richard Sneesby; lecturer, landscape architect and garden designer Bill Burford; House and Gardens Editor at Homes & Gardens magazine, Arabella St John Parker; Trudie Entwistle, artist and lecturer and the newly appointed Chairman of the Society, Charles Rutherfoord (MSGD).
RHS President and landscape architect Elizabeth Banks will support the core panel in judging the Planting Award and Landscape Sustainability Award and lighting expert Sally Storey will advise on the Lighting Award.
Student Awards will be judged by Andy Sturgeon (FSGD), Sarah Eberle (MSGD) and Thomas Hoblyn (MSGD).
There are 14 categories and while the awards are dedicated to rewarding talent among the landscape and garden designer, the SGD also recognises that great gardens are the result of teamwork and is keen to acknowledge and reward the contractors associated with the winning schemes and the educational establishment where the winning student received their training.
Closing date for the Awards is 18th May, 2012 and the awards will be presented in London in November 2012.
The SGD is also introducing the John Brookes Award – a lifetime achievement award granted to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession.
New chairman, Charles Rutherfoord commented: "The Society has strived hard to raise the standards of design and professionalism in the garden and landscape design industry through the rigorous adjudication of its members. The SGD Awards are a wonderful opportunity to recognise and reward the great wealth of talent in our membership and to continue to provide an inspirational focus to the profession. We are delighted to have the support of so many respected, independent experts to work alongside us to judges these Awards. I very much look forward to being part of this exciting initiative."
The Society of Garden Designers has been championing excellence in garden design for the last 30 years. It counts some of the UK’s leading garden and landscape designers among its growing membership and is active both nationally and internationally.
Further details can be found by logging onto: www.sgd.org.uk
