by Bethany Vann | 31 Mar 26 | Garden Design, News
Landscape and garden design practice, Harris Bugg Studio scores a hat-trick of Civic Trust Awards for Horatio’s Garden Sheffield and East.
Recognised for its accessibility, sustainability and civic value, the garden received a Civic Trust Award, the Selwyn Goldsmith Award for Universal Design, and the inaugural Special Award for Neuro-Inclusive Places – sponsored by Buro Happold.
Judges for the Civic Trust Awards describe the garden as “an exemplar of inclusive, patient-led design”, “shaped by its users, loved by its volunteers, and rooted in the fabric of Sheffield’s natural and industrial heritage.”
Originally showcased at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2023, where it was awarded a Gold medal and the award for Best in Show, the garden has since replaced a former car park at the Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre at Northern General Hospital in Sheffield.
In its new home, the fully accessible landscape is designed to support people coming to terms with life-changing spinal injuries for charity Horatio’s Garden.
Charlotte Harris, co-founder of Harris Bugg Studio comments:
“25% of people in the UK, around 16.8 million people, live with disability, yet too often our outdoor spaces are designed as if they only need to work for the other three quarters. Public space should never feel like compromise.
“This garden shows that accessibility does not have to be second best or a tick-box exercise. It can be generous, calm and beautiful, and when we design from vulnerability outward, we create places that are richer for everyone.”
Hugo Bugg, co-founder of Harris Bugg Studio comments adds:
“Before even picking up a pencil, we worked directly with patients, clinicians, estates teams and volunteers, and continued to refine the design together throughout the process. This was not designing for people, but co-designing with them.”
Noting that the garden demonstrates how accessibility need not be an afterthought when creating a functional and environmentally beneficial space.
by Bethany Vann | 12 Mar 25 | Garden Design, Long Reads, Sustainability
After scooping a 2025 Surface Design Award for a low-carbon surface created for it’s 2023 RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden; Horatio’s Garden – Harris Bugg Studio‘s co-founder Hugo Bugg caught up with us to share how the practice continues to champion sustainability throughout its projects.
Staying up-to-date on environmental innovation
“We stay up to date by reading as much as possible in industry and architectural magazines as well as following the work of engineers, ecologists, crafts people and horticulturalists so we have a really broad base of knowledge. We attend CPD events, talks and workshops and visit shows and exhibitions to stay current on developments and innovations.”
Horatio’s Garden. Designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg © RHS / Neil Hepworth
Embracing sustainability at project level
“We make sure sustainability targets sit at the heart of every project we undertake, with actionable steps to reduce waste, increase biodiversity, and contribute to a cleaner, greener planet. At Atelier Gardens in Berlin (Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity 2024 Commercial Design Project winner), for example, we repurposed 900+ tonnes of excavated waste on-site, rather than sending it to landfill. We are guided by a strong ethos of environmental responsibility, with a focus on creating regenerative landscapes that prioritize soil health, plant resilience, and habitat creation. We work closely with growers and suppliers to ensure plant diversity and quality, frequently specifying native and climate-adaptive species to future-proof landscapes against environmental challenges. Our projects integrate innovative horticultural techniques, such as phytoremediation and water-sensitive planting, to enhance ecological impact and long-term sustainability.”
Biggest achievement of 2024
“2024 was another significant year for the studio – we continued to be recognised for our work with Horatio’s Garden charity, including international recognition at the Association of Professional Landscape Designers Awards in the USA and a Surface Design Award for the pioneering eco-terrazzo we developed for the show garden at RHS Chelsea. We were also appointed to revitalise the planting of the iconic Barbican Conservatory as part of the wider Barbican Renewal programme.
The year ahead
Following our award-winning RHS Chelsea garden for Horatio’s Garden, we are continuing to develop our pioneering cement-free permeable terrazzo surface made from waste materials. The permanent garden we are making for Horatio’s Garden at the Princess Spinal Injuries Centre in Sheffield will open and start serving patients, their relatives and NHS staff. The brief for Sheffield is to transform what is currently a car park space into an immersive, restorative haven – the antithesis of a busy, clinical hospital environment – providing a sense of hope and comfort to all those affected by spinal cord injury.”
Horatio’s Garden. Designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg. Sponsored by Horatio’s Garden and Project Giving Back. Show Garden. RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023. © RHS / Neil Hepworth
