The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has announced its medal and award winners at the RHS Badminton Flower Show 2026, with Sophie Leo being named Young Designer of the Year for her garden, Blue Diamond Garden Centres: Where Grief Grows Quiet.
Sophie Leo‘s garden also earned a Gold Medal and the Best Construction Award, making it a triple winner at the show.
Award-Winning Garden Design
The Blue Diamond Garden Centres: Where Grief Grows Quiet garden, designed by Sophie Leo, is inspired by ancient sheepfolds and is meant to be a peaceful sanctuary for rest and reflection.
The planting in the garden features Acer campestre, native grass Deschampsia cespitosa, and wildflower ribwort plantain, as well as the delicate umbellifer Cenolophium denudatum and pale yellow Iris pseudacorus ‘Bastardii’.
This combination of plants provides nectar for bees and hoverflies, as well as cover for frogs, toads, and birds.
The garden’s design, with its emphasis on natural materials and soft planting, creates a sense of serenity and calm, inviting visitors to slow down and appreciate the beauty of nature.
The use of native plants and wildflowers in the garden also highlights the importance of biodiversity and the role that gardens can play in supporting local ecosystems.
Personal Resonance
The Where Grief Grows garden has a personal resonance for Sophie Leo, who lost her mother to cancer in 2022.
Related: Inside RHS Badminton Flower Show Gardens Explored
Shortly before her death, Sophie Leo‘s mother had sketched an idea for a show garden, which she encouraged Sophie to bring to life.
The garden features comfortable seating, soft planting, and walls for a sense of enclosure, highlighting the value of having a safe and peaceful space to spend time in nature when grieving.
A Growing Career
Sophie Leo has her own design studio, which is based in Bristol, and creates gardens across the southwest of England.
She started out in horticulture by working with Arne Maynard Garden Design and still collaborates with them on projects worldwide.
For more information about Sophie Leo‘s work, visit her website at sophieleo.com.
The RHS Badminton Flower Show brings together designer show gardens, floral displays, and expert talks, and is being held in a new location in Gloucestershire.
The show provides a unique opportunity for garden designers, horticultural experts, and enthusiasts to come together and share their passion for gardening and nature.
With its focus on innovation, creativity, and sustainability, the RHS Badminton Flower Show is an event not to be missed, and Sophie Leo‘s award-winning garden is just one of the many highlights on display.
