BALI members shine at RHS Chelsea Flower Show with Garden of the Year triumph
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) is celebrating an extraordinary year at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026, as its members once again dominated the prestigious event, collecting an impressive 10 Gold medals and securing some of the show's highest honours, including the coveted Garden of the Year award.
From deeply personal narratives to bold environmental statements, BALI members played a leading role in creating gardens that captivated visitors, inspired reflection and showcased the exceptional standards of British landscape design and construction.
Leading the celebrations was BALI member The Outdoor Room, who continued their remarkable award-winning streak following their success at the BALI National Landscape Awards 2025. The company won both the Garden of the Year and Small Garden of the Year titles, alongside Gold medals, for The Campaign to Protect Rural England Garden: On the Edge and Addleshaw Goddard: Flourish in the City, the latter designed in collaboration with BALI designer members Joe and Laura Carey.
Speaking of the bumper member medal haul, Wayne Grills, Chief Executive of BALI, said: "The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is always a celebration of the very best in horticulture and landscaping, and this year, yet again, our members have truly excelled. These gardens not only highlighted important issues, making people stop and think, but also displayed incredible craft and workmanship, showcasing the extraordinary talent within our membership and industry as a whole. We are immensely proud of every BALI member involved."
Another standout success came from the Lady Garden Foundation Silent No More Garden, designed by Darren Hawkes and built by BALI member Landscape Associates. The garden earned both a Gold medal and the Best Construction (Show Garden) award.
Landscape Associates also received the Environmental Innovation Award and a Silver-gilt medal for The Eden Project: Bring Me Sunshine Garden, alongside designers Harry Holding and Alex Michaels, while also securing a Silver medal with designer Arit Anderson for Parkinson's UK: A Garden for Every Parkinson's Journey.
Across the showground, BALI members featured in no fewer than 18 medal-winning gardens. Among the Gold medal winners were Baz Grainger and Landform Consultants for The Kilik & Co: A Seed in Time Garden, Rob Hardy for the Trussell's Together Garden, Susie Kennedy and Kate Henning for Tales from the Riverbank Garden, and John Howlett with Acacia Gardens for Flood Re: Contain the Rain.
Additionally, Catherine MacDonald, Rebecca Lloyd Jones, Garden Club London, and Castle Landscapes also secured awards for their exemplary efforts.
BALI members also played a key role in several of Chelsea's feature gardens, including The RHS and The King's Foundation Curious Garden, built by Landform Consultants' Jake Catling, and RHS x CITI Season of Abundance by JJH Landscapes.
Away from the medal judging, BALI's own collaborative trade stand garden, The Hive: A BALI Collaboration, received widespread praise from visitors and professionals. Created by more than 15 BALI members, the installation highlighted climate resilience, biodiversity and ethical sourcing, while providing smaller member businesses with a valuable opportunity to showcase their expertise on one of horticulture's biggest stages.
The success of BALI members at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 once again demonstrates the creativity, technical excellence and innovation that continue to define the UK landscaping industry.
To find out more about becoming a BALI member, email diane.mcculloch@bali.org.uk
Image courtesy of ©RHS/Neil Hepworth