At Raine Garden Design, we begin every project with the simple intention of creating a garden that feels both beautiful and deeply personal. So, to have that work recognised on a national stage is something truly special.
At the 2026 Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) Awards, we were honoured to receive multiple awards that celebrate not only design but also craftsmanship, collaboration, and a shared vision brought to life.
This recognition marks a proud moment for our studio, and an opportunity to reflect on our gardens, partnerships, and thoughtful design that made it possible.
What Are the APL Awards?
The APL Awards are some of the most respected in the UK landscaping industry.
Hosted annually, they recognise excellence across a wide range of garden design and landscaping categories, celebrating projects that demonstrate outstanding quality, creativity, and execution.
Judged by industry experts, the awards look beyond aesthetics alone, considering everything from horticultural knowledge and planting design to construction quality and how a garden is used in everyday life.
To be recognised at the APL Awards is to be acknowledged at the highest level within the profession, which is something we’re incredibly proud to be part of.
Our 2026 APL Award Wins
This year, we were delighted to be recognised in two categories:
Soft Landscaping: Best in Category
We were awarded ‘Best in Category’ for our project, the ‘Modern Country Garden’, in the Soft Landscaping category.
This category focuses on the living elements of garden design, celebrating the artistry of planting. It rewards gardens where the use of plants, texture, and seasonal interest come together to create a cohesive landscape.
Garden for Entertainment: Gold Award
In collaboration with Manor Landscapes, we were awarded ‘Gold’ for our project ‘Garden for entertainment’. This award celebrates spaces that bring people together, where entertaining, relaxing, and everyday moments are seamlessly integrated into the design.
This recognition highlights the importance of creating gardens that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also inviting.
Here’s a video of us on stage, receiving our awards:
Why This Recognition Matters
Awards like these aren’t a primary goal of ours, but they are a meaningful moment of reflection.
They recognise the collaboration between designer, landscaper, and client, and the care that goes into every detail, from the placement of plants to the way a space flows from house to garden.
For us, it’s also a reassurance that thoughtful, design-led gardens, those rooted in both beauty and practicality, continue to resonate.
Design Spotlight: The Modern Country Garden
At the heart of this recognition is the ‘Modern Country Garden’, a project that captures the balance between tradition and modern living.
This garden was blessed with a bright, expansive setting, surrounded by beautiful countryside. However, the space required careful renovation to bring it in line with the way the homeowners wanted to live.
Our approach was to retain the essence of the rural landscape, while introducing contemporary features that would enhance both the atmosphere and usability of the garden.
We redesigned the existing pool area, which once felt disconnected from the home, to flow effortlessly with the property, framed by light porcelain paving and softened with herbaceous planting in gentle tones of lime and purple.
We further renovated the breeze house to create a sheltered space for relaxation, while at the far end of the garden, we added a firepit seating area that invites evenings outdoors, extending the garden’s use beyond the warmer months.
To anchor the design in its surroundings, we introduced a wildflower meadow, borrowing directly from the countryside beyond and creating a seamless connection between garden and landscape.
We’re filled with joy that this space has been recognised for its soft landscaping and curated feel that offers structure in winter, softness in spring, and abundance in summer.
Ready to Transform Your Garden?
If this post has inspired you to reimagine your garden, whether it’s to create something similar to the Modern Country Garden or you actually have no idea at all, we’d love to help.
At Raine Garden Design, we create gardens that feel timeless, considered, and deeply connected to the people who use them.
Check out our design process and contact Raine if you’re interested in commissioning a garden or planting plan, with a free initial consultation.
