Winners of the Wandsworth in Bloom 2025 Awards announced

Published: Thursday, September 18, 2025

Wandsworth’s finest gardeners were celebrated at the Wandsworth in Bloom Awards ceremony in Battersea Park last night.

From balcony blooms to community food-growing sites, the Wandsworth in Bloom competition showcased the creativity and care residents have poured into greening their spaces.

Held at the Pump House Gallery in Battersea Park, the ceremony brought together shortlisted entrants, sponsors, community partners and other guests for the awarding of ten trophies presented to residents, local businesses, community gardens, schools and more.

“This competition is a celebration of community, creativity and care for our environment,” said Paul White, Cabinet Member for Environment, who presented the Best in Show award. “It’s inspiring to see how residents have transformed their spaces and brought colour and life to our borough.”

The evening featured live music from a jazz band of seven local young people, the Malteserz Jazz Band. There were speeches from key figures including Paul White, Cabinet Member for Environment, and Deputy Mayor of Wandsworth, Councillor Rosemary Birchall, and a guest talk from Kate Allardyce from Thrive, a charity that uses gardening to assist people living with disabilities or ill health. Kemi Akinola, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Culture, presented the London Borough of Culture Most Vibrant Garden award.

The winner of People’s Choice Award was voted on during the awards ceremony by the attendees, with every entry across the categories displayed on easels inside the gallery.

How the competition worked

The competition, which ran over the summer, invited entries across seven categories. All entrants to the seven categories were automatically entered in our three special categories: Best in Show, London Borough of Culture’s Most Vibrant, and People’s Choice. Shortlisted entrants were invited to the ceremony, where winners were revealed live on stage.

Wandsworth in Bloom aims to encourage horticultural creativity and celebrate the borough’s gardeners, from creating havens on balconies or growing food in a community garden. This year’s event is part of Wandsworth’s programme as London Borough of Culture.

Wandsworth in Bloom was made possible with support from sponsors Krinkels UK and Neal’s Nurseries, and judging input from experts, including a guest judge Charles Shi, who is a horticulturist for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Niko Mardushaj, Operations Manager for Krinkels UK, said: “Krinkels UK are proud to be part of the first Wandsworth in Bloom unforgettable event. Seeing the community and businesses coming together to celebrate a borough-wide success, makes you feel part of a bigger family. Wandsworth as London Borough of Culture is an inspiring place to live and work, where creativity never starves.”

Edward Campbell-Preston, Managing Director for Neal’s Nurseries, added: “It has been a wonderful experience to partner with Wandsworth Council’s Wandsworth in Bloom competition. We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to have seen and be inspired by so many wonderful gardens around our great borough.”