On one of the hottest days of the year so far, Pro Landscaper hosted its first Summer Spectacular at the De Vere Horsley Estate in Surrey.  

It kicked off with the Summer Showcase, celebrating 30 years of the Association of Professional Landscapers, in association with Deponti. The outdoor festival on Friday 11 July brought together contractors, designers and the supply chain for a series of fun games and activities, including a hotly contested tug of war.  

This was followed by the annual Pro Landscaper Project Awards, in association with Hortus Loci Landscapes, hosted by award-winning comedian Thanyia Moore. A Moroccan-themed Summer Party celebrating 30 years of the APL, in association with Landscapeplus, closed the night. 

Here are just a few of the highlights from the day:

1 Announcing Formosa Landscapes as this year’s Supreme Winner 

Formosa Landscapes picked up the top prize at the Pro Landscaper Project Awards for its Stonehill project, which had won the Build £100,000 to £250,000 category earlier that night. The panel of esteemed judges said it was “superbly delivered, displaying a true full range of landscaping skills.” 

2 Revealing the winners of the Pro Landscaper Project Awards 

As well as the Supreme Winner, there were 16 category winners announced for this year’s Pro Landscaper Project Awards, which recognise excellent landscaping projects valued right up to £250,000. Now in their eighth year, the Project Awards appreciate the complexities of designing and building spaces within defined budgets. 

3 Phil Tremayne being recognised for his contributions to the APL 

In what is the Association of Professional Landscapers’ (APL) 30th year, general manager Phil Tremayne closed the awards with a thank you to all its members before being surprised when Mark Gregory joined him on stage to present him with a recognition award, having led the APL and been its best advocate for the last decade. 

4 16 booths showcasing the best of outdoor living  

A range of outdoor living suppliers exhibited at this year’s Summer Showcase, where a relaxed atmosphere provided the perfect opportunity to meet with visitors and share more about their products and offerings whilst soaking up the sun.  

5 Celebrating the APL’s 30th anniversary with a series of activities and games 

From a coconut shy and penalty shootout to a rodeo bull, there were plenty of opportunities for visitors to try their luck at the Summer Showcase. A tug of war hosted by the APL proved to be the highlight, with a team made up of Composite Prime’s Matthew Spedding, Hide Landscapes’ Darren Williams and Radial Landscapes’ Will Burberry taking the win. 

6 Most Influential Nurseries winners collecting their awards 

The winners of Pro Landscaper’s Most Influential Nurseries gathered at the Summer Showcase to pick up their well-deserved awards. There were six category winners, all voted for by Pro Landscaper readers. 

7 Closing with the Summer Party 

Now in its second year, the Pro Landscaper Summer Party, celebrating 30 years of the APL, in association with Landscapeplus, returned with a Moroccan theme. Karaoke, a shisha bar and themed cocktails made the party a huge success and created the perfect end to this year’s Summer Spectacular.