Mark Gregory wins first ever BBC People’s Choice Garden of the Decade Award

Mark Gregory and his 2018 Welcome to Yorkshire Chelsea garden has been crowned the winner of the BBC People’s Choice Award for Garden of the Decade.

Affectionately known as the ‘King of Chelsea’, the multi award-winning garden designer and MD of Landform Consultants, had two of his gardens in the top 10, with the 2018 showpiece taking the title.

Speaking on his triumphant win, Mark Gregory said:“What an honour it is to be awarded BBC People’s Choice Garden of the Decade. I’ve built and designed gardens at Chelsea every year since 1988, which adds up to more than 3 years of my life! Not being there this year has been more than a little surreal but to win Garden of the Decade means the world. Chelsea is always a team effort and this award is for everyone involved, I’m so proud to have been a part of it and I hope this garden and the 2019 Welcome to Yorkshire garden will inspire people to visit the home county of which I’m so proud.”

Mark has built a total of 99 show gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show since 1988.

Each year, the public vote for their favourite Chelsea garden and since voting commenced last Sunday, the BBC gave those Chelsea fans the opportunity to select the very best from over the past 10 years.

The 2018 garden was a realistic representation of the Yorkshire Dales, showcasing a buttercup meadow, woodland edge with native trees and cultivated cottage garden. It celebrated Yorkshire’s natural materials, traditional crafts and artisan food production.

This garden was the first Welcome to Yorkshire garden to win a gold medal on main avenue. It also won Best Construction and of course the BBC People’s Choice Award.

James Mason, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “It is some achievement to win the BBC RHS People’s Choice Awardfrom the last decade for the Yorkshire garden, especially considering the high calibre of competition.

Hopefully this will be a reminder of what a picturesque part of Yorkshire Wensleydale really is. I’m delighted for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, the Wensleydale Creamery and all the businesses in the Yorkshire Dales who showed great support for the garden and their continued love of such a spectacular part of the world, which once again deserves to be showcased far and wide.

Mark Gregoryis one of the most talented garden designers in the world and we are incredibly fortunate that he just happens to be a Yorkshireman too, who had two gardens in the top ten and the overall winner. I know that the Welcome to Yorkshire team loved showcasing the county at Chelsea to visitors from across the globe.

A worthy win plus a great reminder and inspiration for visitors to explore this picture postcard part of the Dales, but for now following Government guidelines considering COVID-19.”