THE GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS 2014: AWARDS WINNERS
Practical Book of the Year
Louise Curley
The Cut Flower Patch
Judges’ comments
Home-grown cut flowers are enjoying a renaissance so Louise Curley’s book is bang on trend. The text is well-written and there’s never any doubt that Louise is a hands-on gardener who’s acquired lots of skills when it comes to growing cut flowers. These ‘wrinkles’ are passed on in her precisely written text. Jason Ingram’s photography is also first rate so this informative, very practical book, will inspire many.
Finalists
Matt James The Urban Gardener
Phillipa Pearson Small Space Big Ideas
Peter Warren Step by Step Bonsai
David Hedges-Gower Modern Lawn Care
Reference Book of the Year
Andy Vernon
The Plant Lover's Guide to Dahlias
Judges’ comments
The Plant lover's Guide to Dahlias stood out for its easily readable text and stunning photography. The layout makes it easy to select varieties whether the reader is a novice or experienced gardener. It makes the genus appealing whether growing for ornament or the cutting garden. It showcases dahlias not only as individual subjects but also as star performers in in the garden planting palette. Attractive cover design and the right retail price ensure successful marketing.
Finalists
Caroline Holmes RHS Herbs for the Gourmet Gardener
Diana Everett The Genus Tulipa
Barbara Oozeerally Magnolias in Art and Cultivation
Zia Allaway RHS What Plant Where Encyclopedia
Inspirational Book of the Year
George Plumptre
The English Country House Garden
Finalists
Noel Kingsbury The Splendour of the Tree
Helena Attlee The Land Where Lemons Grow
Emma Reuss Garden Design Close Up
Ursula Buchan A Green and Pleasant Land
Garden Publication of the Year
Juliet Roberts
Gardens Illustrated
Judges’ comments
Gardens Illustrated’s unique coverage of garden design and its clear commitment to educating its readers about design is balanced by plant-focussed features, news and profiles of who's who in the garden world. Its real achievement 'of the moment' however is its global viewpoint; a strong commitment to covering gardens internationally keeps its readers eyes on the horizon, whilst at the same time promoting the dynamism and creativity of British garden making.
Finalists
Sarah Giles Garden Design Journal
Chris Young The Garden
Lucy Chamberlain Grow Your Own
Ceri Thomas Which? Gardening
The Dr David Hessayon Garden Columnist of the Year Award
Alan Titchmarsh
Tales from Titchmarsh
Judges’ comments
With a seemingly effortless lightness of touch, Alan packs a well told, interesting story into every piece and left you with something to think about at the end. Sometimes funny, lightly seasoned with his distinctive turn of phrase and always with a message to think about, his columns definitely left us looking forward to the next offering from this old pro.
Finalists
David Wheeler Hort's Desire
Monty Don The Full Monty
Alan Sargent Horticulture Week: A change of direction; Do's and don'ts in hiring your first full time staff member; New ways to market your company
Lia Leendertz The Garden: Comment: Taming the wild; Speaking up about the true value of allotments; Wildlife and the gardener
News Story of the Year
Matthew Appleby
Interflora and RHS draw fire from British growers over £195 bouquet – Horticulture Week
Judges’ comments
We were looking for stories that demonstrated skills in writing, research and investigative journalism. This story was timely, concise, of interest and value both to specialist and general reader, immediate in impact and unafraid to challenge big institutions.
Finalists
Ian Hodgson On top of the world – Garden News
Ian Hodgson Kew in Crisis – Garden News
Lisa Barber 'Revoked' fungicide still for sale – Which? Gardening
Highly Commended
Marc Rosenberg Amateur Gardening: Anger at Hampton Court Chainsaw massacre
Journalist of the Year
Val Bourne
Gardens Illustrated: Hostas
The Garden: Pick of the Peonies
The Plantsman: Elizabeth Parker-Jervis
Judges’ comments
Val’s articles covered a broad spectrum from in-depth interview (notably that with Elizabeth Jervis-Parker) to more plant-based writing in which she inspires with her enthusiasm for the subject. Her work is always readable and well-researched, packed with information, yet not dull, and backed up by a sound personal horticultural knowledge that doesn't come across in a patronising or arrogant way. The judges particularly like the way her pieces are peppered with interesting anecdotal extras that are both relevant and enlightening, always giving the reader something to take away from the article.
Finalists
Carol Klein: Out of the shadows – BBC Gardeners' World Magazine; New life from bare earth – BBC Gardeners' World Magazine; Carol's guide to softwood cuttings – BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Naomi Slade: Give a Little Love – The Telegraph; Tulip Mania – House & Garden; Rite of Spring – House & Garden
Roy Lancaster: Roy Lancaster unwraps seasonal Christmas box – The Garden; People behind the plants: Adventures in China – The Garden; Roy Lancaster visits: Shropshire bamboo nursery – The Garden
Jane Perrone: Poppy fields forever – The Guardian; A taste of the tropics – Amateur Gardening; Stuff of dreams – The English Garden
Practical Journalist of the Year
Charles Dowding
From Pasture to Plot without Digging – Kitchen Garden
Spuds without the Spadework – Kitchen Garden
Preventing Cabbage Carnage – Kitchen Garden
Judges’ comments
We were impressed by the depth of research that lay behind Charles's writing, and by his ease in communicating it. His writing is packed with information borne from his own gardening experience, with the clear aim of helping other gardeners achieve similarly great results. It is hard to write something original about practical gardening tasks, but Charles managed it every time. It was a joy to be made privy to his precise, logical and considered approach to growing via these features. He was a clear winner.
Finalists
Sally Nex: Big yields for small change – BBC Gardeners' World Magazine; 2 harvests for the price of one: saving your own veg seed – BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Alan Titchmarsh: A cut above – BBC Gardeners' World Magazine; Gardening makes you happy – BBC Gardeners' World Magazine; Water matters – BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Joe Maiden: Tried & Tested: White early new potatoes – Kitchen Garden; Summer & Autumn cauliflowers – Kitchen Garden; Round courgettes – Kitchen Garden
Val Bourne: Posh Primroses – Amateur Gardening; Hydrangea: Head of the Class – Amateur Gardening; Adorable Asters – Amateur Gardening
Trade Journalist of the Year
Lucy Summers
Garden Centre Retail: Plant Focus
Judges’ comments
All the entries were of very high quality, and showed the wide range of trade publications in the gardening/horticultural industry, which made the judging process that much more difficult. However, Lucy Summers won out because she effectively showcased her depth of knowledge, both in terms of the subject matter and the challenges faced by specific sections of retailers. Her engaging writing style pulls in her readers and holds their attention – it is both provocative and colourful.
Finalists
Sarah Cosgrove: Floods flag need for water-sensitive design – Horticulture Week; On the brink: UKwide HLF study warns of impending threats to park gains – Horticulture Week; "I couldn't have done it without Great Dixter" says RHS Chelsea best show garden winner – Horticulture Week
Jane Perrone: Gardening Trends – Garden Centre Retail
Janine Pattison: Surveying – Pro Landscaper
Andrew Wilson: The Competitive Edge – Pro Landscaper; When Gardening Isn't Helpful – Pro Landscaper; Age & Experience – Pro Landscaper
Photographer of the Year
Jason Ingram
Judges’ comments
Jason was the stand-out choice due not only to the quality of his images but also the diversity of shots, showing a clear talent for all aspects of garden photography. The landscapes shots are exemplary examples of composition and beautiful light combining to create very atmospheric images.
Finalists
Marianne Majerus
Jonathan Buckley
Gillian Plummer
Jürgen Becker
Features Photographer of the Year
Clive Nichols
Ragley Hall
Judges’ comments
The hard part for the garden photographer is to capture something original, something exceptional, something that shows they have the technique, but also the imagination and vision to bring the garden alive in a photograph, give it a mood and a narrative and most importantly make it their own. Our winner, Clive Nichols' Ragley Hall feature has done just this. The photographer's expertise is shown through the ease in which he has combined atmospheric compositions including wide and cropped images echoing each other and the great portrait which cleverly brings the feature into the present day. This results in a sequence with a classic take shining through and a magical quality which stands apart.
Finalists
Marianne Majerus The English Garden: Private View
Allan Pollok-Morris Venue New York Botanical Garden; A journey in Scotland; The Photography of Allan Pollock-Morris
Andrea Jones The English Garden: Great Scot
Jürgen Becker Prospect Cottage
Book Photographer of the Year
Andrea Jones
The Splendour of the Tree
Judges’ comments
Andrea’s images showed a great sensitivity and understanding of her subject. A difficult subject to photograph but Andrea managed to overcome this with her thoughtful use of light and composition, making each image beautiful, dramatic and interesting. Andrea’s pictures were well observed, insightful and well constructed. There was a great consistency to the quality of the photographs throughout the book and the compositions had a real confidence and ease.
Finalists
Elke Borkowski Pflanzen-Schatze
Clive Nichols Clive Nichols’ English Gardens
Jürgen Becker The Best of Jurgen Becker Garden Pictures
Highly Commended
Alex Ramsay Japanese Zen Gardens
TV Broadcast of the Year
Gary Broadhurst & Bridget Boseley
Great British Garden Revival – Topiary & Roof Gardens
Judges comments
Beautifully filmed, the camera moves and artistic camera angles combined with appropriate use of music made this a very well crafted and a very informative programme. All the criteria for choosing the winner were achieved. Rachael de Thame and James Wong presented in a very engaging and enthusiastic style that keeps the audience attention. The programme was well put together with knowledgeable guest experts, who added further in-depth information. An engaging, inspiring and informative programme.
Finalists
Gwyneth Hardy Beechgrove Garden Programme 12
Gwyneth Hardy Beechgrove Garden Programme 4
Liz Rumbold Gardeners' World - Tx15
Liz Rumbold Gardeners' World - Tx23
Radio Broadcast of the Year
James Aldred & Sarah Blunt
James and the Giant Atlas Cedars
Judges’ comments
This highly topical, unusual programme showcased the drama and majesty of the Atlas cedar. James Aldred's close observation, enthusiasm and deep awe for his subject drew the listener along. We were able to experience these magnificent threatened forests, from below and above, as a traveller and as a local inhabitant, by day and by night.
Finalists
Thordis Fridriksson & Alan Gray BBC Radio Norfolk: The Garden Party
Lucy Dichmont & Alex Feldman The RHS Gardening Podcast: Episode 40: Expert plant advice from the RHS Plant Day, Cotswold Wildlife Park
Cherrie McIlwaine Gardeners' Corner - 4 inserts
Adrian Washbourne BBC Radio 4: Plants: from Roots to Riches episodes 1,6,8 & 17
Environmental Award
Stephanie Pain
Kew Magazine: Saving for the Future
Judges’ comments
We thought this was a really fine article: very informative with a lot of in-depth info, but also very well written, with a good amount of humour, and human interest - not just a dry technical read. Also, relevant to a wide audience.
Finalists
David Hurrion Save Our Butterflies – BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Naomi Slade Green Walls: How to grow a garden vertically – The Telegraph
Val Bourne Saturday Gardening – Daily Telegraph
Gail Vines Connecting the Dots – Kew Magazine
The Alan Titchmarsh New Talent Award
Lalage Snow
Edens beyond the razor wire – The Garden
Judges’ comments
Lalage not only showed a unique perspective on plants with extremely good photography which clearly illustrated the adage ‘a picture speaks a thousand words’ but also showed that the power of plants in adverse conditions could heal and give hope for the future. We look forward to seeing future work by this talented young writer.
Finalists
Tom Mitchell Know your onions; Mountain King; Out of Africa – The English Garden
Gareth Richards Planting a Flemish masterpiece; The colourful appeal of calendula; Lilies of the valley; Bloom in action – The Garden
Blog of the Year
Graham Rice
transatlanticgardener.com
Judges’ comments
This blog is an entertaining, informative and witty account of the blogger’s gardening exploits on both sides of the Atlantic – at his homes in Pennsylvania, USA, and rural Northamptonshire. It’s clear to the judges that Graham Rice has a deep interest in all things horticultural and his passion for the subject is evident from his writing, which has the ability to draw you into his world. This is a blog you can trust when you are wanting to know the latest about all things plants – no matter what side of the Atlantic you are on.
Finalists
Andrew O’Brien growgardencare.com
Richard Jones gardenersworld.com/blogs/author/richard-jones
Michelle Chapman vegplotting.blogspot.com
David Marsden theanxiousgardener.com
Website of the Year
Jim Ward
rhs.org.uk
Judges’ comments
The RHS has done an exceptional job of making their website simple and good looking. This is no mean feat when their content (which is also very good) is far more substantial than the majority of the other entrants’. They have managed to successfully rejuvenate themselves, a major necessity in our tech-centric world. Its new website reflects fresh thinking within the organisation.
Finalists
Daniel Haynes gardenersworld.com
James Alexander-Sinclair into-gardens.com
Elspeth Briscoe & Duncan Heather my-garden-school.com
Sarah Raven sarahraven.com
New Media of the Year
George Williams
PlantSnapp App
Judges’ comments
The entries received were incredibly diverse and the judging for the category was extremely close. The winning entry was seen to meet all the judging criteria, particularly with regards to innovation and user experience. The winning entry was both useful and informative, and had genuine purpose in the garden and beyond.
Finalists
Lucy Hall BBC Gardeners' World Magazine digital edition
Chris Morley National Gardens Scheme GardenFinder App
Ken Crowther WorldRadioGardening.com Podcast
James Alexander- Sinclair & Tiffany Daneff iPad App - intoGardens
Lifetime Achievement Award
Christopher Brickell