RHS People Awards

Chris has had a long and distinguished career as a landscape gardener, teacher and ecologist, and has been a leading figure in wildlife gardening. He created the first wildlife garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 1985 and his best-selling book How to Make a Wildlife Garden has now been in print for 40 years. He has written widely for gardening and countryside magazines and has created films and television series for the BBC that helped to shape the foundation of the urban green infrastructure movement.

Philip has had a long career in horticulture as a teacher, practitioner and author, and has been a tireless inspiration to all those he has worked with. He joined Tim Smit at the derelict gardens of Heligan, where he guided the restoration and became the researcher responsible for saving the heritage seeds, with the gardens going on to become the most visited private gardens in the UK. In 1996, Philip and his friend Peter Thoday became joint Horticultural Directors of the Eden Project, which opened in 2001 and inspired people around the world to see horticulture and botany as applied sciences in a new way.

Linda is one of the foremost pioneers in therapeutic and community gardening, and the founder and driving force behind the Lambeth charity Roots and Shoots. She is a Master Horticulturist and a guardian of sustainability and the environment, whose vision for Roots and Shoots and for the young people who have learned there over decades has created beauty, biodiversity and long-lasting positive change.

Through her dedication, horticultural expertise, kindness and remarkable ability to see beauty in everything, Linda has cultivated a glorious space that nurtures people, the environment and the local community. She has introduced thousands of people in Lambeth and beyond to gardens and gardening.

David has made an outstanding contribution to botanic garden horticulture both nationally and internationally through the management of plant collections, their conservation and the development of horticultural education. He has been resolute in promoting a culture of knowledge sharing and ensuring young horticulturists have opportunities to grow, and has played an instrumental role in developing wide-reaching educational programmes and grant-giving bodies.

Jennifer is an acclaimed world authority on the genus Camellia and has dedicated much of her working life to advancing the knowledge and understanding of its cultivation. Among her many achievements, she introduced the International Camellia Garden of Excellence Award, a highly coveted accolade that has brought international attention to the noted Camellia Routes that run through historic growing regions of Europe, including Galicia in north-west Spain.

As CEO of Bartlett Tree Experts, Robert has overseen the expansion of operations across the United States and into Canada, the UK and Ireland, along with the development of a major research operation supporting the diagnosis of tree problems. He has created a vast arboretum that serves as research ground for the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory and is managed to support learning, discovery, research and training. The arboretum holds more than 26,000 accessioned plants from around the world and its staff are closely involved in conservation research in North American woodland ecosystems. Robert willingly shares the company’s knowledge, facilities, personnel and assets for the benefit of arboriculture and those who work within it.

Andrew has brought horticultural excellence to garden design, educational innovation, international leadership and a strong commitment to sustainability. He founded the London College of Garden Design and has shaped the next generation of designers through the principles taught there, personally mentoring hundreds of students and graduates to support their career progression and open new opportunities.

Henrik is a senior researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Scientific Curator at Gothenburg Botanical Garden. He focuses on woody plants and their use, management and planting in gardens and urban areas, with an emphasis on climate change and ecological matching, carrying out research across European gardens and natural habitats. He freely shares his findings and combines science with horticultural practice to help people select the right planting combinations and choose the right tree for the right place as the climate continues to change.

Bill is a visionary leader of Chanticleer Garden and has elevated horticultural excellence, inspired global garden design, nurtured plant diversity and fostered public engagement throughout his career. Under his leadership, Chanticleer has become a place of national and international renown and he has played a pivotal role in refining its operations and expanding its education programmes. Since 2006, he has co-led Greater Philadelphia Gardens, a regional collaboration of more than 30 public gardens.

Christopher has transformed the Garden Museum into a dynamic and important centre of learning, education and the arts within the horticultural world, open to all. Since joining the museum in 2007, he has been a driving force in its renewal, even swimming from Newlyn to Tresco during the Covid-19 pandemic to raise more than £500,000.

He is passionate about ensuring that gardens and horticulture are accessible to everyone, and his determination to unlock potential in others makes him a remarkable catalyst for positive change, both for individuals and across society.

Peter has given outstanding service to botanic garden management, plant conservation and the development of international conservation strategies, alongside leading Glasnevin Botanic Gardens, Botanic Gardens Conservation International and Missouri Botanical Garden. After his time as curator of Trinity College Botanic Garden, he joined the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources at Royal Botanic Garden Kew, where he was fundamental in establishing Botanic Gardens Conservation International and later became its Secretary General.

In this role, Peter played a leading part in creating the United Nations Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. He went on to become Director of the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin in 2005, where he initiated significant developments and strengthened national conservation work, before becoming President of Missouri Botanical Garden in 2010, one of the most successful botanical institutions in the world, where he helped expand its influence and impact.

Debs is an exceptional horticulturist with enviable knowledge of plants and garden management, and she is a wonderful ambassador for the industry. Working with her husband Simon at Ventnor Botanic Garden on the Isle of Wight, she developed a new nursery that supported the extensive redevelopment of the gardens. From 1988 to 2008, Debs was Head Gardener at Osborne House, leading the restoration of the walled garden and reviving lost Victorian shrubberies while maintaining the gardens through organic principles.

From 2008 to 2020, Debs was Head Gardener for King Charles III at Highgrove, with additional responsibilities for Llwynywermod in Carmarthenshire and the Castle of Mey in northern Scotland. At Highgrove, she modernised the garden team and its practices and led the team with compassion and respect while supporting their professional development.

David has an outstanding ability in curating gardens and arboretums of international repute, and his contributions to RHS Plant Trials evaluating plants for the gardens of the future have been invaluable. During his tenure at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, he has helped shape and develop the collections, which now include 14 National Plant Collections and 600 UK champion trees. David is generous in sharing his work, especially with young horticulturists at the beginning of their careers, and is an engaging speaker who believes strongly that collections should be readily accessible to all.

Christine’s career in horticulture spans more than 40 years and is distinguished by her dedication to education, sustainability and community. She has held senior positions at Levens Hall Gardens, Klondyke Garden Centres, Askham Bryan College and Otley College, providing an extensive foundation for her role at Writtle College, where she has taught practical horticulture for more than 25 years. Christine is also a garden design tutor at Beth Chatto Gardens and has extended her teaching through workshops at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and RHS Hyde Hall in Essex. She has been a pioneer in embedding sustainability and biodiversity into horticultural education, inspiring countless gardeners and students to adopt sustainable practices.

Sara has made a significant contribution to horticulture, particularly in the field of orchids, over the last 40 years and is the owner of Burnham Nurseries in Devon. Burnham Nurseries has exhibited at 52 RHS Chelsea Flower Shows, winning numerous Gold medals, and since taking over the business in 2010, she has received two RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merits, four botanical certificates and 12 cultural certificates from the RHS Orchid Expert Group. Sara shares her knowledge through writing orchid books, contributing regularly to The Orchid Review Yearbook and Garden News, and appearing on programmes including BBC Gardeners’ World and Countryfile Diaries.

Robert developed Bluebell Nursery, specialising in rare and unusual woody plants that are otherwise hard to source, establishing it as one of the foremost retail nurseries in the UK. Twenty years ago, he acquired nine acres adjacent to the nursery and began planting it as an arboretum using the same rare and unusual woody plants he had been growing and selling. The arboretum now features excellent interpretation boards that add great value for visitors and RHS Members, and the nursery and arboretum operate as an RHS Partner Garden.

Mark manages two of the highest profile Royal Parks in the world, St James’s Park and The Green Park in Westminster, London, maintaining them to the highest horticultural standards. He continually enhances the parks for the best visitor experience and, despite receiving 17 million visitors each year, they remain home to remarkable arboreta, wildlife habitats, beautifully maintained parkland and outstanding traditional bedding, perennial and shrub borders. Mark was among the first to make full use of London’s microclimate by creating his impressive hot border on Birdcage Walk and siting tree ferns, echiums and other exotics beside the lake. These parks form the national backdrop to many major events and consistently achieve Green Flag status.

Kevin has dedicated the last 35 years to the controlled breeding and advancement of hellebores at Ashwood Nursery, transforming the appearance of Helleborus × hybridus and enriching gardens worldwide. Building on the work of earlier hellebore specialists, he created the significantly improved Ashwood Garden hybrids in 1995, followed by the innovative Ashwood Evolution Hybrids in 2000. Their bright, clear yellow colouration was unique and the genotype is now used in breeding programmes across the world.

Gary has made an outstanding contribution to horticulture through his leadership and dedication to developing and supporting National Plant Collections and through his wider commitment to plant conservation. For more than 20 years, he has shown exceptional passion for the Sussex Group of Plant Heritage and has developed his own National Plant Collection of Gongora orchids. Under his guidance, the number of National Collections in West and East Sussex has grown to 35. Gary’s enthusiasm for plant sharing is shown through his support of the Plant Exchange and the propagation of unusual and rare plants, including Myrtus species, for plant fairs and seed initiatives.

Andrew has worked in plant health for 30 years and throughout this time has been involved in intercepting and managing numerous threats from invasive pests and diseases. His expertise is widely respected among growers and horticulturists across the south of England and he shares his knowledge through talks and conferences for new entrants to plant health, college students, local horticultural groups and large public gardens. He is a strong supporter of Plant Heritage and its conservation aims, serving on its conservation committee.

Lynden has enhanced and enlivened urban life as a public garden designer and horticulturist, restoring 40 derelict parks and gardens in New York City and transforming them into flourishing public spaces. Beginning with the restoration of the Conservatory Garden, her career took off as she applied the principles of private gardening to improve public environments, going on to renew the Columbia University campus, the borders of Bryant Park, the grounds behind the New York Public Library and Robert F. Wagner Jr Park in Manhattan. She brings to her designs a deep knowledge of horticulture and an understanding of the variety of plants that give her borders impact through every season.

Roger has made an outstanding contribution to sweet peas through establishing a scientific National Collection, breeding new cultivars and promoting Lathyrus to a worldwide audience. His National Collection of Lathyrus species at Bracklesham Bay near Chichester remains a resource of scientific importance, and his collection of sweet pea cultivars is the most comprehensive in the world, comprising around 1,300 cultivars, supported by his encyclopaedic knowledge of the genus, which he shares widely through many gardening publications.

Abraham is an outstanding figure in Belgian horticulture and dendrology, with influence across Europe. Under his direction for 25 years, Arboretum Kalmthout has flourished and prospered. Appointed Curator Director in 2000, he has been active in every aspect of the arboretum’s life, from policy development to practical work on the ground. The arboretum is now a Level III Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) accredited arboretum and an RHS Partner Garden. It has become one of the premier arboreta in Europe under his guidance.

John is a world‑class orchid innovator and has been responsible for a remarkable proportion of the hybridisation work at the Eric Young Orchid Foundation during his 38‑year tenure. He has originated or contributed to more than 2,000 orchid hybrids, drawing on his extensive knowledge of orchid genetics, including gene dominance, compatibility and ploidy. John is strategic and meticulous in his hybridising work and is committed to passing his methods and expertise on to the next generation.

Roger’s career has focused on community engagement and the promotion of gardening and horticulture. After 50 years with Scarborough Council, he continues to support community groups and plant societies in retirement. Throughout his service, he worked across many areas, including the nursery and tree team, rising from foreman to Head of Parks and Open Spaces. He played a leading role in supporting community groups across the borough, guiding Scarborough, Filey and Whitby to success in Britain in Bloom. He finished his career as a Community Environment Officer supporting volunteering opportunities in gardening and horticultural projects across the borough.

Bertie’s passion for alpines shone throughout his Alpine Garden Society (AGS) traineeship at RHS Garden Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, where his ability to connect with colleagues and encourage their learning was clear. Alpine plants have not always been the first choice for young people entering horticulture, but Bertie has inspired many RHS Apprentices, students and colleagues to explore this unique group of plants and the landscapes they originate from, using his knowledge and skill to support others across all aspects of their work.

Maggie works tirelessly within the community, especially with disadvantaged children, people with learning difficulties and carers, teaching them about healthy eating and where their food comes from. After serving in the Army Intelligence Corps for 21 years, she sought a project with sustainability at its heart and in 2005 began transforming a green pasture field in Southbourne near Chichester into an organic smallholding. Tuppenny Barn is now an accredited education charity and a major provider of organic fruit and vegetables, offering green therapy sessions for people with mild to moderate health conditions and benefiting an estimated 155,000 people since its inception.

Sue has made a significant and visible difference to the environment in the centre of Norwich by recruiting and leading teams of volunteers to enhance public planting. Working with volunteers, Norwich City Council and Greater Anglia Rail, she has combined her passion for community gardening with her love of the city. In 2015 she founded the Norwich City Centre Volunteer Gardeners to restore the neglected rose bed outside the railway station, and the group continues to maintain the bed and care for the front garden of City Hall, improving the environment and bringing pleasure to passers‑by.

2022 cohort

• Rich Barley
• Helen Bensted-Smith
• Rachel Brook
• Meg Cobley
• Owen Grummitt
• Stephen Head
• Jonathan Mitchell
• Dan Ori
• Scott Smith
• Joanna Townsend
• Irena Valskiene

About the award

Designed for professional horticulturists who wish to grow their careers, the RHS Master of Horticulture is the most prestigious RHS training programme. Upon completing this degree level equivalent, holders of the award may use the designation MHort (RHS) after their name.

RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2025:

• CDS Plants
• South Devon Chilli Farm
• Corseside Nursery

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025:

• English Sweet Peas
• Kent Wildflower Seeds
• The Meconopsis Group
• British Cosmos
• Orchid Conservation Group
• Newby Hall and Gardens

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2025:

• Gardeners Delight Nursery
• Leafy Lytham
• UK Bonsai Association
• Woburn Farm Plants Ltd

RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse 2025:

• Dan’s Plants
• South Yorkshire Bonsai Society

About the award

The following nurseries have achieved their first RHS Gold medal at a show in 2025. Gold is the highest standard of medal that the RHS awards for displays, a gold medal considers the excellence of the plants, the overall impression and the endeavour needed to put the display together. The award of a first gold medal marks a great achievement.

Harts Nursery for their exhibit of ‘lilies’ at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2025.

About the award

Provided from a fund bequeathed in 1961 by the late William John Martin Hawkey in memory of his grandmother, Elizabeth; his mother, Ellen; and his wife, Emma Hawkey. This award is offered for the best exhibit of cut flowers shown to the RHS during the year.

Frank P Matthews Ltd for their exhibit of ‘over 300 apple varieties and other autumn fruit’ at the Malvern Autumn Show 2025.

About the award

Awarded for the best exhibit of fruit shown to the RHS during the year at any of its shows.

Surreal Succulents for their exhibit of ‘succulents’ at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025.

About the award

Kevock Garden Plants for their exhibit of ‘alpine, woodland and damp-loving plants’ at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025.

About the award

Instituted in 1959 in commemoration of Reginald Farrer, plant collector and authority on alpine plants, this trophy is awarded for the best exhibit of plants suitable for the rock garden or alpine house staged during the year at one of the RHS shows.

W Robinson and Son (Seeds and Plants) Ltd for their exhibit ‘vegetable seeds and plants for all tastes and seasons’ at the RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse 2025.

About the award

Awarded for the best exhibit of vegetables staged during the year at one of the RHS shows.

Sienna Hosta for their exhibit of ‘British grown hostas’ at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2025.

About the award

Awarded annually for a group of plants and/or cut blooms of one genus (fruit and vegetables excepted) which shows excellence in cultivation, staged at one of the RHS shows during the year. No exhibitor may receive this medal more than once in three years.

UK Bonsai Association for their exhibit of ‘bonsai’ at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2025.

About the award

Presented by the Executors of the late Sir George Holford in 1928. This award is offered for the best exhibit of plants and/or flowers (including fruit and vegetables) staged during the year by an amateur or group of amateurs, at one of the RHS shows. Since 1992, exhibits from garden trusts have also been eligible, provided that they are continuations of trusts run by private families and are not government funded.

Kitchen Garden Plant Centre for their exhibit of ‘herbs and edible plants’ at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025.

About the award

Awarded annually for the best exhibit of medicinal and/or culinary herbs staged during the year at one of the RHS shows.

Arthur Bell

About the award

Provided from a fund presented in 1960 by H G Alexander, in commemoration of the collection of orchids made at Westonbirt. From 2013, the award is given annually to an individual for any scientific, literary or any other outstanding personal achievement in connection with orchids.

Jurassic Plants for their exhibit of ‘edible trees and shrubs’ at the Malvern Autumn Show 2025.

About the award

The Lindley Award is awarded annually to the best educational exhibit shown to the RHS during the year.

Plantagogo for their exhibit ‘Heuchara, x Heucherella and Tiarella’ at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2025.

About the award

Awarded annually for the best exhibit shown to the RHS during the year. No exhibitor may receive this medal more than once in three years.