The Garden Media Guild Press Awards 2011

The Garden Media Guild Awards celebrate the best in garden writing - including books, newspapers and magazines - photography, broadcasting - TV and radio - and new media - including gardening websites and gardening blogs. They are the garden media 'Oscars'.

 

Press Awards

 

Garden Publication of the Year

Winner Which? Gardening edited by Ceri Thomas.

Judges’ comments Which? Gardening scored highly on all counts, clearly defining its objectives, the needs of its target readership and delivering an extremely high quality product.

Well researched, written and presented in an attractive, user-friendly way, the currency of the information was apparent from the outset. Its appeal would strike a chord with both experienced gardeners and novices alike, and far from simply being a consumer testing magazine, it provides a range of information on garden topics, backed up with excellent photography and a clear, easy-to-follow writing style.

Finalists

The Alpine Gardener edited by Christopher Grey-Wilson.

Garden Answers edited by Geoff Stebbings.

The Plantsman edited by Mike Grant.

Kitchen Garden edited by Steve Ott.

 

Garden Columnist of the Year

Winner Ursula Buchan for Gardens in The Spectator.

Judges’ comments We received an avalanche of entries, though many were columns only because of their regularity. What we were looking for was writing that expressed opinions, stimulated reaction and revealed something of the personality that produced them.

The shortlisted columnists write for a diverse range of publications and in a variety of styles, but all fulfilled this brief.

However, one columnist stood out for the consistent high quality of her writing and an unwavering tenacity to fully explore her topics, succinctly presenting carefully constructed arguments to an audience she clearly understands. She has maintained this standard over a quarter of a century under six successive editors and so, in the year that she finally retires from The Spectator, we are delighted to present the award to Ursula Buchan.

Finalists

Naomi Slade for Dig it in Kitchen Garden.

Carol Klein for A Year at Glebe Cottage in Gardens Illustrated.

Frank Ronan for The Writer’s Plot in Gardens Illustrated.

Monty Don for Monty’s Veg Garden Diary in Gardeners’ World Magazine.