The shortlist for the Society of Garden & Landscape Designers (SGLD) Awards 2027 has been announced, bringing together over 30 exceptional gardens and landscapes that showcase the breadth and creativity of contemporary garden design.
From intimate urban gardens and roof terraces to expansive country landscapes, public parks and therapeutic spaces, the shortlisted projects demonstrate how thoughtful design can transform the way we experience outdoor spaces while responding to the changing needs of people, plants and wildlife.
Climate resilience and biodiversity are recurring themes. Gardens have been designed to cope with drought, flooding and challenging coastal conditions, while others use rain gardens, permeable surfaces, naturalistic planting and habitat creation to work more closely with their surroundings.
Selected by a panel of independent experts - including designers, academics, journalists, and horticultural professionals - and chaired by garden designer James Scott FSGLD, the shortlist reflects the extraordinary diversity and creativity within the field.
James Scott FSGLD, said: “The judging panel has been hugely impressed by the exceptional quality and diversity of this year’s submissions. The creativity, craftsmanship and commitment to excellence demonstrated by every finalist reflect the remarkable depth of talent within our membership and its role in driving our industry forward.”
Twenty-five of the gardens will now be entered into the People’s Choice Award which is open for votes via the SGLD website for one month.
The same finalists will also compete for the highly coveted Grand Award which the judging panel will decide and present in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
The 2027 awards - including the Grand Award, Judges’ Award, People’s Choice Award, and four Student Awards - will be presented at the SGLD Awards Ceremony on Friday 5th February 2027, where the recipient of the prestigious SGLD Lifetime Achievement Award will also be revealed.
The Society of Garden + Landscape Designers has also announced that Plant Heritage the plant conservation and research charity will be its Charity Partner at the event.
