With the awards
ceremony fast approaching, 67 BALI members of the British Association of
Landscape Industries (BALI) have now been informed they have won a BALI
National Landscape Award, with some members successful in more than one
category.
This year’s Awards,
which are now run in-house by the BALI team at Landscape House, sees 101
National Awards made by the adjudication panel, which is chaired by landscape
consultant and former senior lecturer in landscape studies at Writtle College,
Greg Allen.
Following a summer
of visiting every entry, Greg and his team of judges – John Melmoe, Richard
Barnard, Jason Lock, Robin Templar Williams, Steve Roberts, Andrew Legg and
Mick Callahan – met at BALI Landscape House in late August for the adjudication
process that selects the award-winning schemes. Judges Madge Moore, Peter
Jennins OBE and Nick Coslett also put forward their recommendations for the
Affiliate Exceptional Service awards and the Employer Excellence awards, which
were subsequently considered by the wider panel. Deliberations over the 127
entries took three days, at the end of which the list of winners was confirmed.
Reflecting on this
year’s process, Greg said: “What a difference this year’s magnificent summer
has made to the judges’ task of visiting the BALI Awards entries, albeit a real
challenge for BALI members faced with drought conditions in many parts of the country.
Keeping their schemes looking at their best for judging has certainly called on
every ounce of their horticultural expertise!
“We have been
delighted with the achievements of BALI contractors and designers this year
and, as always, the hardest task has been to stick to our stringent criteria
and only reward real excellence across the board. In previous years this
approach has inevitably resulted in disappointment for a percentage of members
who, although justly proud of their schemes, had yet to achieve the exemplary
standard required by the BALI Awards. This year, however, 77 per cent of
entries receive an award, which speaks volumes for the incredibly high
standards BALI members are now achieving. We offer our very sincere
congratulations to those who have attained that level and are on our list of
winners, and would encourage those who have not been successful this year to
strive again next year to make the list and experience the thrill and
satisfaction of winning a BALI National Landscape Award.”
BALI’s Chief
Executive, Wayne Grills, added: “The standard of entries this year has been
really spectacular, indicating that private, commercial and public clients are
prepared to invest in quality to achieve the schemes they want. Our members
have delivered on a grand scale. They have used the latest techniques,
technology and materials to push the boundaries in terms of solving the design,
construction and maintenance challenges presented by budget constraints and
climatic conditions.
“The Awards also
give us the opportunity to recognise both BALI Affiliate members who constantly
deliver outstanding customer service, and companies from across the BALI
membership who are exemplars in terms of their responsibilities as employers. I
am always in awe of our members’ achievements and offer my very sincere
congratulations to every one of this year’s winners.”
BBC Breakfast anchor
and sports journalist Dan Walker will host the ceremony at the Grosvenor House,
Park Lane, London, on Friday, 7 December when the winners of the Principal and
Special Awards, and the coveted Grand Award, will be announced.
Full details of the
winning entries can be found at baliawards.co.uk
along with booking details for the Awards Ceremony.
