mediterranean garden - BALI National Landscape Awards 2025

Award: BALI Principal Award

Category: Hard Landscaping Construction Under £500k

The Mediterranean Garden at Beningbrough Hall has been recognised with a Principal Award at the 2025 BALI National Landscape Awards. Designed by Andy Sturgeon for the National Trust, the project forms part of a 10-year programme to reimagine and enhance the estate’s grounds. The scheme established a robust hard landscaping framework to support future planting and long-term visitor use.

Blakedown’s works included regrading the garden to introduce new levels and contours, constructing dry stone walls in locally sourced York stone, and forming winding paths in Breedon self-binding gravel to shape circulation and views. Bespoke water features were delivered, including a copper rill set within a wall and a stepped cascade built on piled foundations. Large sandstone boulders and feature stones were positioned to evoke a Mediterranean hillside, while integrated drainage infrastructure addressed challenging ground conditions.

The BALI judges commended the “careful selection and quality of hard landscaping materials and workmanship evident throughout” and praised the delivery of the scheme within a sensitive and historic setting.

The completed garden combines craftsmanship with durability, creating a climate resilient and distinctive landscape that provides structure, accessibility and a setting that will continue to evolve as the garden matures.