Garden Writers' Guild
Encyclopedia
The British Garden Writers' Guild, (renamed the Garden Media Guild in late 2007), is a trade organisation for professional garden writers, photographers, broadcasters and members of allied trades. The Guild
was established in 1991 to improve the quality of garden writing, photography and broadcasting by improving links between the gardening
mass media
and the horticultural industry
. Full membership is restricted to those who have been published and are earning a significant level of income from their horticultural media activities, although Probationary membership can be given for up to three years to anyone seeking to establish themselves as professionals in this field. Associate membership can also be given to those employed in activities closely linked with horticulture and the garden media - examples being PR, marketing and publishing.
Days are also held to discuss aspects of that subject. The Guild itself publishes a bi-monthly newsletter for members and an annual yearbook of members.
The Garden Photographers' Association (GPA) is part of the GMG.
) is currently held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, each November. The number and titles of the award
s presented at this lunch have varied over the years: three new multimedia
categories were added in 2006; in 2008 a new Young Gardener Initiative Award was introduced, as was a category for Local Radio Broadcast of the Year, and a special award was made for Blog
s in the Digital Media Award, because of the quality of the year's submissions.
Awards are now made for outstanding contributions in the following categories:
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
was established in 1991 to improve the quality of garden writing, photography and broadcasting by improving links between the gardening
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
mass media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
and the horticultural industry
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
. Full membership is restricted to those who have been published and are earning a significant level of income from their horticultural media activities, although Probationary membership can be given for up to three years to anyone seeking to establish themselves as professionals in this field. Associate membership can also be given to those employed in activities closely linked with horticulture and the garden media - examples being PR, marketing and publishing.
Guild activities
The Guild members organise Briefing Days, during which the horticultural trade and Guild members are made aware of new developments and exchange views; occasional PublishingPublishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
Days are also held to discuss aspects of that subject. The Guild itself publishes a bi-monthly newsletter for members and an annual yearbook of members.
The Garden Photographers' Association (GPA) is part of the GMG.
GMG Awards
The Guild has held its prestigious Awards Lunch since 1994. The annual ceremony (previously held at the Savoy HotelSavoy Hotel
The Savoy Hotel is a hotel located on the Strand, in the City of Westminster in central London. Built by impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan operas, the hotel opened on 6 August 1889. It was the first in the Savoy group of hotels and restaurants owned by...
) is currently held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, each November. The number and titles of the award
Award
An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...
s presented at this lunch have varied over the years: three new multimedia
Multimedia
Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
categories were added in 2006; in 2008 a new Young Gardener Initiative Award was introduced, as was a category for Local Radio Broadcast of the Year, and a special award was made for Blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
s in the Digital Media Award, because of the quality of the year's submissions.
Awards are now made for outstanding contributions in the following categories:
Books
(for new hardbacks or paperbacks)- Inspirational Book of the Year
- Seeds of Adventure, 2008; The New London Garden, 2000
- Practical Book of the Year
- How to Create a Wildlife Garden, 2008; Garden People, 2007; The Great Veg Plot, 2006
- Reference Book of the Year
- Clematis for Small Spaces, 2008; RHS New Gardening, 2007; Irises, 2006
- Enthusiasts’ Book of the Year (not awarded in 2008)
- RHS Encyclopedia of Perennials, 2007; Growing Bonsai, 2006
Press Awards
- Newspaper of the Year Garden News, 2008; The TelegraphThe Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, 2007; The Telegraph, 2006 - Magazine of the Year Gardeners' World Magazine, 2008; Gardens Illustrated, 2007; The Plantsman, 2006
- Journalist of the Year Roy LancasterRoy LancasterRoy Lancaster, OBE is a British gardener and broadcaster.Charles Roy Lancaster was born in Farnworth, Bolton, Lancashire and best known for his work on the long running BBC TV programme, Gardeners' World...
, 2008; Jane Boore, 2007; Ambra Edwards, 2006 - Practical Journalist of the Year Helen Riches, 2008; Andi Clevely, 2007; Carol Klein, 2006)
- Trade Journalist of the Year Matthew Appleby, 2008; Graham Clarke, 2007; Marc Rosenberg, 2006
- News Story of the Year (new category in 2008) Jean Stowe, 2008
Photography
- Photographer of the Year Andrea Jones, 2008; Andrew Lawson, 2007; Jonathan Buckley, 2006; Marianne MajerusMarianne MajerusMarianne Majerus, born 1956 in Clervaux, Luxembourg, is a garden and portrait photographer based in London. She is one of Europe's leading specialist garden photographers. After taking her international baccalaureate at the Lycée Hubert Clément she studied in England graduating in Economics and in...
, 2002 - Features Photographer of the Year Paul Little, 2008; Michelle Garrett, 2007; Jonathan Buckley, 2006
- Single Image of the Year Jason Ingram, 2008; Jonathan Buckley, 2007; Derek Harris, 2006)
Broadcasting
(for national/regional TV/radio gardening broadcasts, either single programmes or selected programmes from a series or strand)- Television Broadcast of the Year
- The Fate of the Cottage Garden (a Gardeners' World special), 2008; Grow your own Veg, 2007; The Gardener’s Year, 2006
- Radio Broadcast of the Year
- Slug Hell (for BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour), 2008; Gardens of Faith, 2007; It's all Gone Pear Shaped, 2006
- Local Radio Broadcast of the Year (new category in 2008)
- Gardening with Mini People, Daphne Ledward for BBC Radio Lincolnshire, 2008
Multimedia
- Digital Media Award (formerly 'Electronic/New Media Award') Gardeners Click, 2008, Camilla Phelps, 2007; RHS Online, 2006
- Digital Media Blog Award (a special award in 2008)
- Blogging From Blackpitts, James Alexander-Sinclair, 2008
- Environmental Award Oliver Whaley, 2008; John Walker, 2007; Leigh Hunt, 2006
- New Writer Award Joe Reardon-Smith, 2008; Louise Zassy-Bang'em, 2007; Helen Billiald, 2006
- Young Gardener Initiative (a new award in 2008, sponsored by the Royal Horticultural SocietyRoyal Horticultural SocietyThe Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
) 1, Dominic Murphy of The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and 2, the Edible Playground garden (at Thornford School, Dorset), 2008
Special Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award (decided by a poll of Guild members)
- Past winners include: Rosemary VereyRosemary VereyRosemary Verey, OBE, VMH was an internationally known English garden designer, lecturer and prolific garden writer who designed the famous garden at Barnsley House, near Cirencester....
, Graham Stuart ThomasGraham Stuart ThomasGraham Stuart Thomas OBE , was an English horticulturalist, artist, author, poet and garden designer.He was born in Cambridge and studied in the University Botanic Garden at Cambridge University...
, Christopher LloydChristopher Lloyd (gardener)Christopher Hamilton Lloyd, OBE was a British gardener and author. He was the 20th Century chronicler for the heavily planted, labour-intensive, country garden.-Life:...
, Beth ChattoBeth ChattoBeth Chatto, OBE is a British plantswoman, garden designer and author best known for creating the Beth Chatto Gardens near Elmstead Market, in the English county of Essex. She is also known for writing a number of books on gardening for specific conditions. She has lectured throughout the UK,...
, Penelope HobhousePenelope HobhousePenelope Hobhouse is a garden writer, designer, lecturer and television presenter.-Background:...
, Roy LancasterRoy LancasterRoy Lancaster, OBE is a British gardener and broadcaster.Charles Roy Lancaster was born in Farnworth, Bolton, Lancashire and best known for his work on the long running BBC TV programme, Gardeners' World...
, Alan TitchmarshAlan TitchmarshAlan Fred Titchmarsh, MBE DL is an English gardener, broadcaster and novelist. After working as a professional gardener and a garden journalist, he established himself as a media personality through appearances on gardening programmes...
, Geoffrey SmithGeoffrey Smith (gardener)Geoffrey Denis Smith was a professional gardener, broadcaster, writer and lecturer. He was the presenter of Gardeners World from 1980 to 1982 and a number of other BBC series in the early 80s including Geoffrey Smith's World of Flowers, Mr Smith’s Flower Garden, Mr Smith's Favourite Garden and Mr...
and nurseryman Ken Muir. Garden photographer Michael Warren (a founder-member, past Chairman and former President of the Guild) won the award in 2008.