BROADCASTING AWARDS

TV Broadcast of the Year

Informative and entertaining. A rare blend of horticultural and technical accuracy with effective camerawork which enhances understanding. A record number of entries, representing the huge range of horticulture in the country.

Radio Broadcast of the Year

The winner was a very well produced and entertaining programme - there was humour and music, mixed in with good horticultural know-how. The descriptions in it were so good that the listener was easily transported to join this canny old non-gardening sea dog in his quaint Devon village garden.

New Media Award

This is the first year for this new award, which is for all types of electronic media - DVDs, CDs, websites and interactive services. The entries comprised websites, DVDs, and blogs. It had always been appreciated that the judges for this new award might find it difficult to make an objective assessment between so many varied types of media. In practice, the outcome turned on one key criterion, that of 'usefulness to UK gardeners', coupled with quality of content, use of the technology and comprehensiveness. Approached in this manner the judging was relatively straightforward. Each of the shortlisted entries contain information valuable to research and useful in the general sense to both experienced and novice gardeners. They are also simple and rewarding to use. But for sheer comprehensiveness, quality of content and value the RHS Online site is unparallelled and the site is a clear winner. Well done Geoff Hodge and your team at the RHS.

New Writer Award

The winning feature was an easy read and the author had a clear understanding of the readership. It starts with a classic question and answer intro and paints a vivid picture of a reader’s garden.

Environmental Award

The judges were delighted to welcome the introduction of this new category of Award. There are a number of key environmental issues which are of particular importance to gardeners, either because they present new challenges or offer significant opportunities to make a positive contribution. We were looking for three things: relevance to the gardening audience, authority of content and quality of writing. We feel we had an excellent shortlist and a very worthy winner.

Photographer of the Year

There were some very good images in all the portfolios entered in this category, but the top three were exceptional. The winning portfolio stood out from the rest. It displayed terrific range and flawless technique, but it was the almost palpable sense of love and passion in all the images that captivated the judges. People as well as plants and gardens feature in the portfolio and all have been photographed with the utmost sensitivity.

Features Photographer of the Year

The judges felt that the overall standard in this category was very high, with a large number of both books and articles being entered. The top three were all so good that it was extremely difficult to pick the winner. However, the winning entry displayed an amazing breadth of technique and a consistently high quality. The pictures were exciting and enticing, so much so that he judges felt that anyone seeing them would want to rush out to buy the book and start growing vegetables. One judge was almost ready to eat the images!

Photographers' Choice Award

Judged by a ballot ofexhibitors and GPA members.

 

BOOK AWARDS

Enthusiasts' Book of the Year

This book is beautifully presented, clearly written and informative. The author leads one to engage with his subject and share his enthusiasm. The excellent photographs by Neil Sutherland help and encourage the reader to try this fascinating art for themselves.

Practical Book of the Year

Sarah Raven manages to combine practical information and her own personal views and recommendations in this well-produced and eminently readable book. It is informative, interesting and beautiful and can be used as both a practical guide to growing and an inspirational, entertaining read.

Reference Book of the Year

Claire Austin has written a highly readable text, distilling knowledge garnered over years of iris growing. There is little of the usual botanical jargon found in many monographs and this makes the text an easily accessible read to all. She prioritises the information really well and she has cross-checked all her information with the leading world authorities in America and the United Kingdom. Claire has also taken the majority of the pictures herself, and these are clear and help identification.

 

Newspaper of the Year

Entries were judged on horticultural excellence, including topicality and accuracy, allied to high-quality writing and photography, clear and appealing layouts plus interesting approaches to the subject. The judges also felt that the effect on gardening of the growing concern about climate change and drought should be properly reflected. The overall standard was high with many of the requirements above being met. It was pleasing to note the bold use of full-colour photos and that the best entrants included much authoritative writing by recognised experts. The judges agreed that The Daily Telegraph is a worthy winner.

Magazine of the Year

The top three contenders were never in doubt -it was just the order that really gave us problems. All three magazines were exceptional, well-rounded products with their target audience firmly in mind. It was more a case of finding a balance to satisfy a journalist and a horticultural expert. The outcome was a very close-run contest, with The Plantsman just nudging ahead as the most complete package. Its faultless production, clean layouts, great writing and commissioning and a generally light touch on what might appear a rather scholarly content make it deserving of a much wider audience.

Journalist of the Year

We liked Ambra's articles immensely. The first on Lyveden scholarly, informative and stimulating, the second on willows and Samhain very funny and human, the third on Ian Hamilton-Finlay a tour de force that told us so much about this most interesting gardener, once again amusing and allowing us to experience her visit to him as though we were there. All three articles were beautifully written.

Practical Journalist of the Year

Carol Klein deals with the esoteric subject of fern propagation in an engaging and informative way. She not only delves into the secret world of the fern’s reproductive habits, but also explains how these mysterious goings on can be turned to the advantage of those wishing to propagate these ancient plants.

 
TRADE & TECHNICAL PRESS AWARD

Trade Journalist of the Year

The judges liked the tone of the winning piece which was helpful in providing useful and practical information. It was written in a balanced and chatty way which made it easy to read.

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