Young Designer of the Year competition

The RHS Young Designer of the Year competition provides a springboard for the careers of fledgling garden designers with mentoring from a professional, to create their first garden at an RHS Show

Since 2009 the competition offers a remarkable platform, teaching would-be designers a raft of essential skills that they’ll need to call upon in their future careers.

By working with a contractor, specialists, nurseries and other suppliers, young designers learn how to pull all these skills together to create a successful Show Garden.

What’s involved?

  • Mentorship from a professional garden designer, contractors and plantspeople.
  • A grant of £12,000, along with support and advice with securing further sponsorship and funding.
  • The opportunity to receive a coveted RHS medal.
  • The competition is open to designers who will be 30 or younger in the year of the Show.

Find out more
Ashleigh Aylett awarded Young Designer 2024 by Helena Pettit, RHS Director of Shows
Ashleigh Aylett awarded Young Designer 2024 by RHS Director of Shows Helena Pettit

“The RHS Young Designer of the Year competition is a unique opportunity for designers starting out on their career to get valuable experience and make a mark on the industry. Former finalists have gone on to collect awards at many other RHS Shows.”

Lex Falleyn, RHS Show Manager

Hear from the Young Designers

Young Designers talk about their experiences of being part of the competition and how it has helped their careers

04:58

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How the RHS Young Designer competition helped my career

A milestone in Will’s career

A springboard to a career in garden design

How the RHS Young Designer competition helped my career

A milestone in Will’s career

A springboard to a career in garden design

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Past Young Designers

Winners

Red RhythmA contemporary garden for a young professional couple, ‘Red Rhythm’ was designed for relaxation and entertaining during the summer months.

2009 – Lee Belgrau

Red Rhythm

A contemporary garden for a young professional couple, ‘Red Rhythm’ was designed for relaxation and entertaining during the summer months.

Read more about the garden

The Woodland Trust: 49% GardenDrawing on ideas from the picturesque movement, the garden captured the romantic essence of the English countryside. By evoking the nostalgia of a perfect day outdoors, it highlighted the importance of preserving Trees Outside Woodland.

2024 – Ashleigh Aylett

The Woodland Trust: 49% Garden

Drawing on ideas from the picturesque movement, the garden captured the romantic essence of the English countryside. By evoking the nostalgia of a perfect day outdoors, it highlighted the importance of preserving Trees Outside Woodland.

Read more about the garden

Off The GridThemed around off-grid living within a forest setting, this garden showed how an individual can live within nature in a self-sustaining way.

2023 – Nathan Webster

Off The Grid

Themed around off-grid living within a forest setting, this garden showed how an individual can live within nature in a self-sustaining way.

Read more about the garden

Red RhythmA contemporary garden for a young professional couple, ‘Red Rhythm’ was designed for relaxation and entertaining during the summer months.

2009 – Lee Belgrau

Red Rhythm

A contemporary garden for a young professional couple, ‘Red Rhythm’ was designed for relaxation and entertaining during the summer months.

Read more about the garden

The Woodland Trust: 49% GardenDrawing on ideas from the picturesque movement, the garden captured the romantic essence of the English countryside. By evoking the nostalgia of a perfect day outdoors, it highlighted the importance of preserving Trees Outside Woodland.

2024 – Ashleigh Aylett

The Woodland Trust: 49% Garden

Drawing on ideas from the picturesque movement, the garden captured the romantic essence of the English countryside. By evoking the nostalgia of a perfect day outdoors, it highlighted the importance of preserving Trees Outside Woodland.

Read more about the garden

Off The GridThemed around off-grid living within a forest setting, this garden showed how an individual can live within nature in a self-sustaining way.

2023 – Nathan Webster

Off The Grid

Themed around off-grid living within a forest setting, this garden showed how an individual can live within nature in a self-sustaining way.

Read more about the garden

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Finalists

Caledonian Coastal Garden

2019 – Aidan Cifelli

Entertaining Meets Nature

2024 – Callum Corrie

Bible Society Psalm 27 Garden

2023 – Ollie Pike

Caledonian Coastal Garden

2019 – Aidan Cifelli

Entertaining Meets Nature

2024 – Callum Corrie

Bible Society Psalm 27 Garden

2023 – Ollie Pike

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The Bees Garden

2013 – Florian Degroise

Finding [urban] Nature

2018 – Ed Higgins

Raised by Rivers

2018 – Nicola Oakey

The Bees Garden

2013 – Florian Degroise

Finding [urban] Nature

2018 – Ed Higgins

Raised by Rivers

2018 – Nicola Oakey

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Moor Work

2010 – William Quarmby

Subversive pigments

2012 – Andrew Percival

Prison Garden for Rehabilitation

2012 – Katherine Wills

Moor Work

2010 – William Quarmby

Subversive pigments

2012 – Andrew Percival

Prison Garden for Rehabilitation

2012 – Katherine Wills

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RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse 2025

Celebrate the summer with a great day out for the whole family

Find out more

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.