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Naturalistic wildlife garden in London crowned Garden of the Year by BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine

Tuesday 22 October 2024

BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, the UK’s No.1 gardening magazine, has revealed the winner of its annual Gardens of the Year Award, with Sara Faulkner’s, wildlife-friendly, naturalistic garden in London topping the judge’s votes.

Sara beat almost 1,000 entrants to win over expert judges including: TV presenter and Gardeners’ World Magazine columnist, Alan Titchmarsh; Garden designer and BBC Gardeners’ World presenter, Arit Anderson; Garden designer and author, Ann-Marie Powell; BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Editor, Kevin Smith, and last year’s winning gardeners.

Sara moved into her home nearly 10 years ago, eventually turning the small urban garden into a series of three ‘rooms’ filled with perennials, shrubs and climbers, pollinator-friendly flowers and vintage or reclaimed furniture and pots. The garden provides space for the entire family to work, play, sit, meditate or paint. The canopy of small trees – mainly fruit trees gifted by Sara’s children – creates privacy and shelter for the seating areas.

The Gardens of the Year judges were impressed with Sara’s naturalistic garden and unanimously agreed that it should be the 2024 Judges’ Choice.

“I would take this garden home with me. It has lovely cohesive planting – a proper little cottage garden that’s comfortable in its own skin. It’s a real pleasure.”

Alan Titchmarsh, TV presenter and Gardeners’ World Magazine columnist

A man with gray hair, wearing a checked shirt, sits outdoors in a garden surrounded by plants and flowers, smiling at the camera. The image is in black and white.

“Sara’s gone to a great effort to bring continual colour into the space and really create a narrative out of that. I love what she’s done with the walls, painting them the ideal colour to help them fade away but also using them for planting height. A tough job well done. I want to be here 365 days a year.”

Arit Anderson, Garden designer and BBC Gardeners’ World presenter

A woman with short, curly hair smiles warmly at the camera while standing outdoors, framed by leafy branches and soft sunlight in a garden setting. The photo is in black and white.

This garden feels like a whole world with lovely planting that hangs together really well. It’s soulful and inspiring. I’d be happy with this garden myself.

Ann-Marie Powell, Garden designer and author

A woman with short wavy hair smiles, standing outdoors with arms crossed. She wears a long-sleeve top and glasses resting on her head. Blossoming tree branches are in the blurred background. The image is in black and white.

“I love the fact that all the furniture and pots are second-hand and bought on a budget. Some of the pieces look like they could cost a fortune but really didn’t.”

Kevin Smith, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Editor

Headshot of Kevin Smith, Head of Content, BBC Gardeners' World, Immediate Media Co.

All six finalists in this year’s competition, sponsored by Alpen, had their gardens professionally shot by a garden photographer and will feature in BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine in 2025. The finalists are:

  • Abu and Leti Sidhanee, Sutton, London
  • Angie Barker, Wigan, Lancashire
  • David McFarline, Forest Hill, London
  • Jo and Andi Butler, Telford, Shropshire
  • Sara Faulkner, Raynes Park, London
  • Susan Downing, Radway, Warwickshire