SGD awards fellowship to prolific designer

James Scott has been awarded a fellowship by the Society of Garden Designers (SGD). The association’s council voted unanimously to make the principal designer of The Garden Company a fellow in recognition of his contribution to the profession and the society.

Scott founded Hertfordshire-based The Garden Company in 1991, shortly after finishing his studies at Merrist Wood College. Since, the design and build practice has produced numerous award-winning gardens, and last year Scott was named one of Pro Landscaper’s Most Influential people in the industry, as voted by readers.

He served on the SGD council for six years, during which time he was responsible for its annual awards and helped to establish ‘registered practice’ membership. Scott recently joined the SGD’s adjudication panel for new members too. He undertakes a similar role for the British Association of Professional Landscapers for its new designer members, being a member of the association himself.

Scott says: “I am delighted and humbled at the same time. This is a great honour for me as I have always held great respect for the position of fellow of the SGD. I look forward very much to contributing to the society in the future in any way that I can.”

Multi-award-winning garden designer Jo Thompson has also been awarded a fellowship with the SGD. Thompson boasts four RHS Gold medals and a People’s Choice Award at the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show in 2017. She is a member of the RHS gardens committee and the RHS show gardens selection panel, and is a garden advisor for RHS Garden Rosemoor and an RHS shows judge. She also tutors at the London College of Garden Design and is a fellow of the Landscape Institute and a trustee of the Bankside Open Spaces Trust.

Thompson says: “I am incredibly honoured to receive the fellowship. The SGD has always been a huge support to me, including when I was first starting out as a garden designer. They featured one of my early gardens, which was a real turning point and led to my first garden at Chelsea Flower Show.”