The Anglo- Japanese Strolling Garden in Oxfordshire designed by Sarah Eberle has won the SGD’s Garden of the Year Award.

Judges described the contemplative garden with naturalistic planting as one of “national importance”, adding that it would surely become “one of the most important gardens in England”.

It scooped both the Large Residential Garden Award and the Planting Design Award before collecting the ultimate prize of the night.

There were 21 winners in total at the SGD’s annual awards, held on 7 February at the Landmark Hotel in London.

Renowned designer Dan Pearson collected the SGD Lifetime Achievement Award, whilst Japanese designer Haruko Seki took this year’s Judges’ Award for a private patio in Marylebone, transforming a vacant London parking plot into a tranquil space. The People’s Choice Award went to Colm Joseph for a walled garden in East Sussex.

Other winners on the night included Adolfo Harrison, Stefano Marinaz, Lucie Conochie & Jane Heather, Peter Berg, McWilliam Studio, Andy Sturgeon, Sally Bowyer, Clare Greener and Barbara Samitier.

Best New Designer was awarded to Tabitha Rigden for the Hestia Garden at The Plough in Shiplake Oxfordshire, which became the first pub garden to win an SGD Award.

The three SGD Student Awards, chosen from 10 finalists, were presented to London College of Garden Design students Kate Hyslop and Bronte Seller for the best Public Realm project and the best Domestic Design project respectively, while Holly Knight from the KLC School of Design topped the Sustainable Garden Design category.

“These students have not only created beautiful designs but have also addressed some of the most pressing challenges in our industry,” says SGD chair, Andrew Duff.

“Their work is inspiring and gives me great confidence in the future of garden design.”

The SGD also shared its new branding as the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers at the ceremony.

A full list of this year’s winners of the SGD Awards can be found here.