Sussex Meadow Garden Wins Society of Garden & Landscape Designers ‘Design for the Environment’ Award
- Harriet Roberts Collins
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Returning the award to the studio for the third time
The studio is absolutely delighted to share that Sussex Meadow Garden has won the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers ‘Design for the Environment' Award, making it the third time we have won this prestigious award in the past five years. We are completely blown away. Our sincere thanks go to the SGLD for recognising our work among such an extraordinary pool of talented garden designers.
Whilst awards are never the reason we do the work we do, they offer a special moment of validation and a chance to pause and celebrate what has been achieved. They also invite reflection, giving us time, as a studio, to step back and ask why we design gardens the way we do, and why that matters.
Environmental responsibility has always been at the heart of our approach to garden design. Long before sustainability became a headline, it was clear to us that gardens have the power to support biodiversity, provide vital habitats for pollinators and wildlife, manage water sensitively, and respond intelligently to the landscapes and communities in which they sit. Of course, as we all know, garden design can also achieve the polar opposite if these considerations are overlooked.
For us, every project begins with listening, to the client and to the land itself, including its history, soil, and ecology. Designing in harmony with local conditions isn’t a limitation; it’s an invitation to create something richer, more resilient, and more meaningful. By working with nature rather than against it, gardens are able to evolve beautifully over time while requiring fewer resources to thrive. This approach not only leads to greater long-term satisfaction for clients, but also contributes to a healthier environment for the wider community and ecosystem.
Being recognised by the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers once is a privilege. Being recognised three times is a powerful reminder that environmentally conscious design is not a trend, but an ongoing commitment. It’s reflected in the everyday decisions we make, plant choices that support pollinators, layouts that encourage natural movement and growth, and materials that are responsibly sourced and thoughtfully used.
This award also belongs to a wider team of collaborators: Sam Avard for building the garden, Bramble & Bloom for its thoughtful maintenance, Annaïck Guitteny for capturing the garden so beautifully through photography, and of course our wonderful clients, for trusting us with their project. Designing gardens that enhance their environment requires trust, curiosity, and a willingness to think long-term - qualities we are deeply grateful to encounter time and again in the people we work with.
Most importantly, this recognition reinforces a belief we hold deeply: gardens can be both beautiful and functional. They can delight the senses while quietly doing important work, improving soil health, increasing biodiversity, strengthening our connection to the natural world, and ultimately helping to safeguard it for future generations.
As we face growing environmental challenges, thoughtful garden design becomes ever more important, arguably essential. We hope this award helps to shine a light on what’s possible when beauty and environmental responsibility are designed hand in hand, and encourages more gardens to become part of the solution.
