CED Stone Group, the leading supplier of natural stone hard landscaping products with depots in North and South England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, is this year’s headline sponsor of the Society of Garden Designers Awards.

The annual SGD competition is one of the highlights of the horticultural and landscape year, recognising the cream of British garden design talent.

Giles Heap, Managing Director of CED Stone, says: “We are extremely proud to sponsor the SGD Awards.

“We have been honoured to work with many SGD members over the years and the imagination of this amazing group of designers has driven us to discover some of the most innovative and interesting hard landscape products in the world.”

CED Stone’s support for the Society of Garden Designers goes back more than 30 years. In that time the company has hosted talks and education days for SGD cluster groups and members.

Lately CED has become more involved in the SGD Awards. In 2013 the stone specialist sponsored the Judges Award and from 2014 to 2016 it sponsored the public or commercial outdoor space award.

This year it has decided to back the event by becoming the  headline sponsor. This coincides with CED’s increasing support of garden designers and landscaping professionals at Royal Horticultural Society shows – Chelsea and Hampton Court, Malvern, Tatton Park and Chatsworth.

CED Stone supported 23 gardens and trade stands in 2016 – exhibits that gained five gold,10 silver-gilt and three silver medals in total.

The SGD Awards for 2017 will be presented at the beginning of next year in London’s Landmark Hotel. There will be 21 accolades presented at the ceremony recognising community garden projects, international schemes, and public and commercial outdoor spaces.

The highest awards are the Grand Award, which goes to an overall winner chosen from the winners of the seven main categories, and the Judges Award, for a project the judges decide deserves special credit for having achieved something particularly exceptional.

Philippa O’Brien, MSGD, Chair of the Society of Garden Designers, says:  “Our headline sponsors are essential to the success of the awards and we are very grateful for the generous support that CED is giving the Society for this year’s programme.”

You will be able to see CED at the Natural Stone Show in London 25-27 April, where it will showcase a range of UK and European stones.