Open to entry by grounds departments from educational institutions, local authorities, trusts or other entities, and also contractors where the contractor has taken on the primary grounds management role.
Categories
Best Grounds
Awarded to the school, college, university, or council-run sports or recreational grounds which in the opinion of the judges illustrates excellence in the areas most appropriate to the site, for example: Turf maintenance, environmental practice, horticultural practice, community engagement, volunteer involvement, safety, promotional activity, innovation, overall management and plan, etc.
- Judges will be looking for evidence that entrants’ key objectives are being achieved
Open to entry by gardens teams from garden attractions, historic gardens, botanic gardens, arboreta, private estates, trusts, local authorities, or other entities, and also contractors where the contractor has taken on the primary gardens management role.
Garden or Arboretum Team of the Year
Awarded to the best example of a garden or arboretum team which through clear objectives across all areas of its work, has succeeded in achieving improved outcomes for the sites in its care, the users of those sites and other stakeholders. Judges will be looking for evidence of achievement in areas such as (where relevant):
- Horticulture practice
- Arboriculture practice
- Stakeholder engagement
- Innovation
- Standards & benchmarks
- Skills development
- Communication etc.
Best garden restoration project
Awarded to the best example of a garden restoration or development project (complete project or single phase) completed in the past 24 months. As well as looking for evidence of best practice in design and installation, judges will also be looking for evidence of achievement with regard to outcomes such as:
- Improved visitor numbers/experience
- Greater landscape/site resilience
- Community/volunteer engagement
- Improved maintenance plan
- Innovation etc.
Best garden or arboretum (1-5 staff)
Awarded to the garden or arboretum which in the opinion of the judges illustrates excellence in the areas most appropriate to the site, for example: Maintenance, environmental practice, horticultural practice, arboricultural practice, conservation, community involvement, safety, promotional activity, innovation, overall management and plan.
- Judges will be looking for evidence that entrants’ key objectives are being achieved
Best garden or arboretum (6+ staff)
Awarded to the garden or arboretum which in the opinion of the judges illustrates excellence in the areas most appropriate to the site, for example: Maintenance, environmental practice, horticultural practice, arboricultural practice, conservation, community involvement, safety, promotional activity, innovation, overall management and plan.
- Judges will be looking for evidence that entrants’ key objectives are being achieved
Open to entry by parks departments from local authorities, trusts or other entities, and also contractors where the contractor has taken on the primary parks management role.
Parks or Green Space Service of the Year
Awarded to the urban parks or green space service, which, through use of innovative solutions to problems, exemplary management, effective communication etc., is achieving the best possible outcomes for its service users in the face of current challenges. Judges will be looking for evidence of achievement in areas such as:
- Service innovation
- Standards & benchmarks
- Community engagement
- Partnership working
- Use of technology
- Skills development
Best parks restoration or development project
Awarded to the best example of a parks restoration or development project (complete project or single phase) completed in the past 24 months. As well as looking for evidence of best practice in design and installation, judges will also be looking for evidence of achievement with regard to outcomes such as:
- Improved visitor numbers/experience
- Greater landscape/site resilience
- Community/volunteer engagement
- Improved maintenance plan
- Innovation etc.
Best Heritage Park
Awarded to the heritage park which in the opinion of the judges, illustrates excellence in the areas most appropriate to the site, for example: Maintenance, environmental practice, horticultural practice, arboricultural practice, conservation, community engagement, volunteer involvement, safety, promotional activity, innovation, overall management and plan, etc.
- Judges will be looking for evidence that entrants’ key objectives are being achieved
Best Neighbourhood Park
Awarded to the neighbourhood park which in the opinion of the judges, illustrates excellence in the areas most appropriate to the site, for example: Maintenance, environmental practice, horticultural practice, arboriculture practice, conservation, community engagement, volunteer involvement, safety, promotional activity, innovation, overall management and plan, etc.
- Judges will be looking for evidence that entrants’ key objectives are being achieved
Open to entry by arboriculture teams from local authorities, trusts or other entities, and also contractors where the contractor has taken on the primary tree management role.
Tree Service of the Year
Awarded to the tree service which, through use of innovative solutions to problems, exemplary management, effective communication etc., is achieving the best possible outcomes for its service users in the face of current challenges. Judges will be looking for evidence of achievement in areas such as:
- Service innovation
- Standards & benchmarks
- Community engagement
- Partnership working
- Use of technology
- Skills development
Best planting design (site or series of sites under three hectares in total)
Awarded to the best example of planting design in a park, garden attraction, heritage, arboretum or other public space under three hectares, and completed within the past 24 months. Judges will be looking for evidence of achievement in areas such as:
- Planting composition
- Sensitivity to site conditions
- Environmental sensitivity
- Maintenance
- Creativity
- Innovation
- Biodiversity
- Sustainability etc.
Best planting design (site or series of sites over three hectares in total)
Awarded to the best example of planting design in a park, garden attraction, heritage, arboretum or other public space over three hectares, and completed within the past 24 months. Judges will be looking for evidence of achievement in areas such as:
- Planting composition
- Sensitivity to site conditions
- Environmental sensitivity
- Maintenance
- Creativity
- Innovation
- Biodiversity
- Sustainability etc.
Best play area design
Awarded to the best example of a play area in a park, garden attraction, heritage, arboretum or other public space, completed within the past 24 months. Judges will be looking for evidence of achievement in areas such as:
- Visitor experience
- Use of materials
- Sensitivity to site conditions
- Environmental sensitivity
- Maintenance
- Creativity
- Inclusivity etc.
Open to contractor, local authority and third sector partners
Best partnership: Commercial (parks, gardens or tree care)
Awarded to the best example of a commercial partnership forged between two or more organisations to support and enhance the provision of sustainable green space services, gardens management or tree care services.
- Judges will be looking for evidence that entrants’ key objectives are being achieved
Best partnership: Third Sector (parks, gardens or tree care)
Awarded to the best example of a partnership forged between two or more organisations from the public or third sector to support and enhance the provision of sustainable green space services, gardens management or tree care services.
- Judges will be looking for evidence that entrants’ key objectives are being achieved
Open to entry by parks, gardens, grounds or tree managers working for local authorities, trusts or other entities, and also contractors where the contractor has taken on the primary management role.
Best volunteer initiative
Awarded for the best example of an initiative developed by a parks, grounds, garden or tree management team which has been designed to engage volunteers in activities related to any aspect of the work of a parks, gardens, grounds or tree management team leading to enhanced outcomes.
- Judges will be looking for evidence that entrants’ key objectives are being achieved
Best community health/wellbeing initiative
Awarded for the best example of an initiative developed by a parks, grounds, gardens or tree care team which has been designed to engage the local community in activities related to any aspect of parks, grounds, gardens or woodlands, leading to enhanced health and wellbeing outcomes.
- Judges will be looking for evidence that entrants’ key objectives are being achieved
Best visitor initiative
Awarded for the best example of an initiative developed by a parks, gardens, grounds or tree care team which has been designed to engage visitors in activities related to any aspect of parks, grounds, gardens, or woodlands, leading to enhanced outcomes.
- Judges will be looking for evidence that entrants’ key objectives are being achieved
Open to entry by landscape, gardens and green-space consultants, or parks, gardens, grounds and tree managers working for local authorities, trusts or other entities, or contractors where the contractor has taken on the primary management role.
Best new funding initiative
Awarded for the best example of a funding initiative which has been designed to help enhance the financial sustainability and resilience of a single site or service.
- Judges will be looking for evidence that entrants’ key objectives are being achieved
Best Green Space/Infrastructure Strategy
Awarded to the best example of a green space or green infrastructure strategy developed on behalf of a local authority, trust, charity or other landowner, and which sets out the vision for using green space, the goals to be achieved, and how. Judges will be looking for evidence of achievement in areas such as how well the strategy:
- Contributes to the wider objectives of the land owner e.g. improvements to health, culture, regeneration, biodiversity, public realm, etc.
- Meets current and future stakeholder needs
- Sets out design, management and maintenance principles and monitoring and review procedures
- Identifies investment priorities, partnership working etc.
Horticulture Week Custodian Award
FREE TO ENTER
Awarded to an individual who has made the most exceptional contribution to the management of parks, gardens, arboreta or other green spaces. Judges will be looking for evidence of the nominee's key achievements, how they are regarded by their peers and why they should be considered for this prestigious award.
**Special Offer**
Enter twice and get your third entry free!
Download the entry kit
