Gold rush for APL member gardens at Harrogate Spring Flower Show
24 April 2026
Members of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL), the Horticultural Trades Association’s (HTA) specialist group of designers, landscapers and professional gardeners, have scooped gold awards and the prestigious ‘Best in Show’ at the Harrogate Spring Flower Festival.
‘Over the Garden Fence’ showcased compact gardens designed by APL members to demonstrate how to get the most out of a small urban garden space.
APL designer Melissa Morton and APL landscaper member Land Masons won Premier Gold and Best in Show for ‘The Breathing Space’.
The compact show garden is inspired by Nordic design principles and grounded in Yorkshire materials. The 4×5m space is centred around a small, beautifully crafted garden sauna for two, a place of warmth, ritual and quiet restoration. A simple timber boardwalk leads through relaxed, naturalistic planting, guiding movement from the everyday into a calmer, more reflective setting.
The judges praised Melissa Morton for the garden’s beautiful planting and innovative, spatially aware design. Land Masons was also commended for the garden’s construction. The judges said it was built to an extremely high standard, with great attention to detail.
APL member J Paxman Landscapes won Gold for ‘Common Ground’
This small urban garden explores how shared outdoor spaces can bring people together across age, background, and experience. Designed as a single, enclosed garden room, the space is organised around shared activity. Modular planters of varying heights form a sculptural boundary and productive edge where people can grow plants together, while integrated seating encourages pause, conversation, and informal gathering. A central seating area and cantilevered bench anchors the garden.
Caption: APL member J Paxman Landscapes won Gold for ‘Common Ground’ garden at Harrogate Spring Flower Show
The judges said the ‘Common Ground’ garden had an engaging design, was very well-constructed, and featured excellent-quality planting.
Phil Tremayne, General Manager of the Association of Professional Landscapes (APL), said:
“As the first major event of the garden festival season, this is a great result for the APL and our members. Congratulations to Melissa, the Land Masons team and Nathan for creating two outstanding APL gardens. The Breathing Space and Common Ground really do demonstrate the talent, quality and professionalism that our members put into their projects. I hope the gardens also inspire visitors to the show, proving that anything is possible, even in a small urban garden space.”
The next show of the season is the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair in Beaulieu. Accredited professionals from the APL will be at the show providing a Landscape and Design Clinic, for practical ideas and expert design advice. APL designers will be on hand to offer free professional guidance during drop-in sessions.
For more information about the APL's upcoming shows, visit: hta.org.uk/apl/events/shows or to learn more about the APL member gardens, visit the HTA’s News page.