Freelance garden designer Sophie Leo has been crowned RHS Young Designer of the Year at RHS Badminton Flower Show 2026.

Leo brings her first show garden to Badminton in recognition of those experiencing grief. Blue Diamond Garden Centres: Where Grief Grows Quiet was built by Ben Gifford and sponsored by Blue Diamond Garden Centres. Bearing a personal connection with the garden, Leo explains where the design originates from: “A few months before my mum died, she shared a sketch with me of a show garden she’d drawn while I was studying garden design.” 

Initially drawn as a garden based on a journey living with cancer, Leo redesigned it in keeping with the original messaging. 

“She was one of those people who believed if you’re going through something, you should use it to help other people. That’s why I wanted to create a garden to help people experiencing grief.” 

In reflection of her own journey with grief, Leo’s garden creates an atmosphere similar to the countryside walks she would take with her mum after hospital appointments. Intended to evoke feelings of comfort and refuge, the garden also draws on the sheepfolds once used by shepherds in search of a place for peace, rest and protection.  

Nature is as a reminder that “life will keep going, even if you aren’t ready,” says Leo. From the bloom of a flower or the movement of birds, “the thought that nature carries on is a comforting thought and helped me with my grief.” To signify this comfort, the garden has two areas of planting separated by walls.  

Outside, the garden hides small wildflowers amongst deschampsia cespitosa, signifying the difficulty and struggle in search of beauty or joy when experiencing grief. Inside of the walls, shrubs offer protection, followed by larger flowers such as native foxgloves, and umbellifers which hosts a light, airy flower to signify feeling lighter, open and comforted upon entering a safe space in nature. 

Leo also picked up a Gold medal and Best Construction for Blue Diamond Garden Centres: Where Grief Grows Quiet.

Abigail Stoyle, am RHS Young Designer finalist, designed Silo: All that comes in remains, which possessed a zero waste narrative. From using corks for drainage and oysters for oyster-crete, discarded materials find a new home in maintaining a sustainable garden. Built by Surrounding Counties, the garden picked up the RHS Environmental Award.

Another RHS Young Designer finalist, Sophie Sturgeon, designed A Space for Her, built by Ground Control. Inspired by the growing influence of social media on confidence and self-image, particularly among young women and girls, the garden explores how thoughtfully designed landscapes can support wellbeing, reflection and connection. 

The trio emphasised the importance of being around one another, and how proud they were of each other for creating each individual garden. Sturgeon says, “I couldn’t have done this without them,” closely echoed by both Stoyle and Leo.

Read about the RHS Young Designer finalists inside Pro Landscaper’s July issue.