APL Awards 2026: Finalists announced
7 October 2025
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is thrilled to announce a record number of finalists for the 2026 Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) Awards, which showcase and celebrate excellence among the HTA’s landscaper and garden designer members. The 123 finalists were revealed at the APL Annual General Meeting, held during FutureScape in London.
Judging took place over three intensive days. Led by a panel of respected industry professionals, the judges used their wealth of knowledge and experience to meticulously evaluate and select the best from an array of outstanding projects. The expert judging panel was chaired by Bob Sweet (BBC Gardeners’ World Live), with Rod Winrow (Garden House Design), Laura Anstiss (Oakmore Green), Rupert Keys (TASK Academy), and Phil Tremayne (APL General Manager).
Due to the exceptional level of skilled entries, two new categories have been introduced for the 2026 awards: Outdoor Living and Waterfalls and Pond Features, bringing the total number of categories to 22.
Winners of the prestigious APL Awards 2026 will be announced during a special awards ceremony on Friday, 13 March 2026, at The Brewery, 52 Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4SA.
Bob Sweet, APL Awards head judge and Horticultural Director at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, said:
“It is always a delight and privilege to witness the skills, innovation and passion from landscapers in these prestigious awards. This year, it has been noticeable how many schemes have benefited from the expertise of a professional garden designer, often embellishing a potentially bland planting scheme into something more adventurous. Huge congratulations to all the entries who have proudly demonstrated the skills of the British Landscaper”
Laura Anstiss, APL Awards judge and Director of Oakmore Green Ltd, said:
“In today’s world, providing exceptional service is no longer a choice: it’s a necessity. Customers have more options than ever before, with media at their fingertips, and their expectations are higher than ever. To stay ahead of the competition, businesses must prioritise excellence and ensure they meet the highest standards. The awards bring together industry professionals to demonstrate just how passionate and dedicated our industry members are. It is a great privilege to be part of it and to see firsthand just how incredibly talented everyone is.”
Phil Tremayne, APL General Manager, added:
“It seems impossible that every year the standard of the APL gardens gets better and better, but this year once again APL members have excelled, and the quality has improved. Well done. All entrants should be very proud of their achievements”
The Association of Professional Landscapers, the specialist group for HTA’s landscaper and garden designer members, has an esteemed reputation for quality and landscaping excellence and is proud to support and champion the professional landscaping and garden design community across the UK. To learn more about the APL, visit landscaper.org.uk.
APL Awards 2026 - Finalists
The full list of finalists and categories can be found here: hta.org.uk/apl-awards/finalist