The Annual Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland (ALCI) Landscape Awards took place at the Convention Centre Dublin on 6th March. The awards, known as the Oscars of the landscaping industry, acknowledge ALCI members who demonstrate exceptionally high standards of professionalism and skill in the execution of a wide variety of landscape projects.
The judges were Gary Graham, Bloom Manager, DME Amenity Horticulture Bord Bia and Kerrie Gardiner, Bloom Head of Show Gardens & Horticulture. They awarded marks on a variety of criteria, including the use of plants and hard landscaping material, the extent of challenges faced by the landscaper in completing the work and the overall impression and quality of the scheme. (see the full list of category winners below).
Gary Graham, one of the judges, commented: “Every year we get to take a close look at some of the best work in the country and 2020 was a standout year for superb schemes, large and small, private and public, sport, educational. urban, rural, and everything in between. I always like to focus on the recipients or beneficiaries of these landscapes; the children, parents, grandparents, sports teams, office workers, homeowners, patients, motorists, tourists, etc. There are so many benefits associated with green infrastructure, of any scale, that they are often glossed over and occasionally forgotten. The environmental, social and economic benefits are vast but often taken for granted, often undervalued and often underfunded.”
The 2020 ALCI Awards were sponsored by Bord Bia, Annaveigh Plants, Sanctuary Synthetics, Kilsaran, ICL, NAD, Enrich and Unichem.
The ALCI represents Landscaping Contractors all over Ireland and is committed to the development of the landscape industry by ensuring the quality of workmanship, best practice, reliability and emphasis on training. It recognises the excellence of landscaping across various categories achieved by its members through the annual all-Ireland Awards which have been running for over 30 years.
Landscape Contractor of the Year (for best all-Ireland entry)
Landscape Contractor: Silverstream Landscapes
Designer: Andrew Dunne, Andrew Christopher Garden Designs
Client: Private, Co Louth
This stunning project was almost two years in the making having gone through an extensive design process, followed by detailed planning permission application right through to completion. It offered the opportunity to transform a greenfield site attached to the main property into a lush, plant-filled paradise. Located close to the seafront, each plant was chosen to thrive in the salt-laden air and the often-dry sandy soil. Using over 7,500 plant trees and hedges, we created a garden that will not only look stunning but it will also form a new habitat for the local birds and wildlife. The garden features large Gabion walls (stone-filled cages) for shelter and structure and an impressive garden room/ gym overlooking a beautiful natural swimming pool. Natural swimming pools require no chlorine and are instead kept healthy by the plants that grow in it.
There were so many different elements in this scheme and a huge range of skills required to implement them and Silverstream Landscaped took each one on with confidence. Some of the elements included in the scheme were; extensive groundwork, huge curved gabion walls, a 100m2 building with Gym and storage (including 6-meter-wide bi-fold doors). A large natural organic swimming pool built on a site with a very high water table (Not Easy!), Composite decks, bespoke furniture, Extensive boundary walls, automated bespoke gates, light and irrigation schemes, outdoor gas fire, Orchard, driveways, and polished concrete lawn edge with crushed blue glass detail. Not to mention a very large planting scheme of over 7,500 plants, trees and hedges.
Category Winners:
Private Gardens €10,000- €30,000
Landscape Contractor: Silverstream Landscapes
Designer: Alan Coffey
Client: Private, Dublin
Private Gardens €30,000- €50,000
Landscape Contractor: Greenstone Landscapes
Designer: Ross Farrell, Greenstone
Client: Private, Dublin
Private Gardens €50,000- €100,000
Landscape Contractor: Saxa Landscapes
Designer: Simone Fitzpatrick, Kevin Fitzpatrick Landscape Architecture
Client: Private, Dublin
Private Gardens Over €100,000
Landscape Contractor: Silverstream Landscapes
Designer: Andrew Dunne, Andrew Christopher Garden Designs
Client: Private, Co Louth
Residential Development
Landscape Contractor: SAP Landscapes
Designer: Pat McCormack, SAP
Client: Walthill Properties
Address: Orwell Park Gardens, Rathgar, Dublin 6
Commercial Development up to €50,000
Landscape Contractor: Sublime Landscaping
Designer: Sublime Landscaping
Client: Artificial Grass Cork
Address: Hobbs Yard, Curaheen, Carrigrohane, Co Cork
Commercial Development over €50,000
Landscape Contractor: Saxa Landscapes
Designer: Jane McCorkell
Client: Adrian Bartell
Address: Mikey Ryan’s Bar, 76 Main Street, Cashel, Co Tipperary
Public Authority
Landscape Contractor: Creative Play Solutions
Designer: Creative Play Solutions & client
Client: Abha Bhan Community Council
Address: Abha Bhan Parish Park, Loghill, Co Limerick
Residential, Commercial & Public Authority Maintenance up to €20,000
Landscape Contractor: SAP Landscapes
Client: Walthill Properties
Address: Orwell Park Gardens, Rathgar, Dublin 6
Residential, Commercial & Public Authority Maintenance over €20,000
Landscape Contractor: SAP Landscapes
Client: Kennedy Wilson
Address: Clancy Quay, Islandbridge, Dublin 8
Sportsgrounds Construction & Maintenance
Landscape Contractor: Peter O’Brien & Sons Landscaping
Designer: Peter O’Brien & Sons Landscaping
Client: St Sylvester’s GAA Club
Address: Broomfield, Malahide, Co Dublin
Special Award – Design & Build
Landscape Contractor: Peter O’Brien & Sons Landscaping
Designer: Peter O’Brien & Sons Landscaping
Client: St Sylvester’s GAA Club
Address: Broomfield, Malahide, Co Dublin
For further information contact: Ross Carew, Executive Secretary ALCI Tel: 01 2479037; email: info@alci.ie or go to https://alci.ie/awards.
 Landscape Awards took place at the Convention Centre Dublin on 6th March. The awards,){kind=link}