Judging Panel
JOHN MELMOE
FORMER MANAGING DIRECTOR, WILLERBY LANDSCAPES
John attended Merrist Wood Horticultural College in 1976 to study Landscape Management before joining Comtec (UK) in the role of Contracts Manager. Promoted within the company to oversee Erosion Control projects on an international basis, operating in Gabon, Kenya, Tanzania, Singapore & Malaysia.
In 1984 he was recruited to assist former colleagues in the establishment of a landscape contracting company trading as Willerby Landscapes. Under his stewardship, they achieved an unprecedented six Grand Awards and numerous Principal Awards. John took early retirement in March 2017. He continues to actively mentor contractors and suppliers associated with the landscape industry. In 2019 John assumed the role of Chair of the Judging Panel.
ELIZABETH CONNELLY
SENIOR LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, PEABODY, LONDON
Elizabeth started her career training & working as a botanical horticulturalist at the University of Birmingham Botanic Gardens and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, progressing to combine her interests in horticulture and design through Garden Design & Landscape Architecture.
Her career has been largely focussed on developing and managing a wide range of publicly accessible greenspaces but has also worked on private commissions while in practice. She currently works for a social housing provider, Peabody, developing liveable landscapes for its residents. With a passion for creating spaces that meaningfully engage with the user Elizabeth brings over 25 years of varied experience within the sector to the role.
GARETH WILSON
INDEPENDENT EXPERT WITNESS & GARDEN CONSULTANT
Gareth has been working in the landscape industry since 1989, constructing high-end landscape projects throughout England. He is a member of the British Association of Landscaping Industries, The Chartered Institute of Horticulture, The Garden Media Guild and The Professional Garden Consultant’s Association.
Gareth’s career includes thirty Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) awards for Show Garden construction at various RHS Shows. Gareth is now an Expert Witness in landscaping, including working for the BBC as a Landscaping Expert, training landscapers at The Landscape Academy based in Chester whilst also being a qualified mediator, lecturer and regular columnist within industry magazines and an industry awards judge.
JASON LOCK
LANDSCAPE CONSULTANT
A former director of Notcutts Landscapes, Jason has a wide knowledge of both design and construction. He became a Registered Member of the Society of Garden Designers in 1994 and served on its committee for 2 years; Jason was also Chairman of the APL for 10 years and CEO for 2 years.
Jason is former Owner and Director of Deakinlock Garden Design, moving on to Bowles & Wyer and now currently dividing his time as Business Development Manager for Boughton Loam and Project Manager for Thomas Hoblyn Garden Design. Working within the industry for over 30 years Jason has won numerous awards throughout his career, including BALI National Landscape Awards.
MATT NICHOL
GARDEN DESIGNER, MATT NICHOL GARDEN DESIGN
Graduating from Pershore College in 2003 with an HNC in Management and Design of Gardens, Matt has been working for 18 years in the domestic garden design and landscaping sector and has amassed extensive experience in landscape design, project estimating and business management. Having won numerous awards for the gardens that he has created for clients, Matt has a comprehensive level of construction experience and hosts a variety of CPD events on specific garden design topics.
Matt achieved Registered Membership of the Society of Garden Designers in 2005 and currently sits on their Adjudication Panel, assessing the work of members working towards Registered Member status.
ROBIN TEMPLAR WILLIAMS
LANDSCAPE DESIGNER, ROBIN WILLIAMS & ASSOCIATES
Robin’s career in landscaping began in 1979 and after gaining many years’ practical experience building and planting gardens he progressed into design. As Managing Director of Robin Williams & Associates, he specialises in designing private gardens and landscapes whilst also working as a Director and Principal Lecturer at the Garden Design School.
Robin is a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers, an Accredited Designer and former Board Director of BALI, and a certified member and Fellow of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (USA). He has been on the Judging Panel since 2005 and has been the recipient of numerous awards including RHS Gold medals and BALI National Landscape Awards.
RUPERT KEYS
MANAGING DIRECTOR, KEYSCAPE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
Having trained at Pershore College of Horticulture Rupert has been a now been landscaper for 30 years, building his reputation in the horticultural industry as a highly respected landscaper who has built many award-winning show gardens at some of the top gardening shows in the country. Rupert has also featured as a landscape expert on television and brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise, passion and skills to apprentices within the industry.
Rupert became Managing Director of Keyscape Design & Construction in 1993 and is also MD and Founder of TASK Academy, set up in 2022 to be the ideal environment for students to immerse themselves in practical land-based skills training.
MADGE MOORE
CHAIR, YORKSHIRE’S FOOD, FARMING & RURAL NETWORK
Formerly a National Director for Lantra, Madge was responsible for developing close working relations between the Sector Skills Council, employers and a wide range of government departments, agencies and learning providers.
Currently Madge is Chair of Yorkshire’s Food, Farming and Rural Network. The Network acts on behalf of businesses, rural support agencies and trade bodies in Yorkshire to raise issues and concerns to central government. Madge also chairs Grow Yorkshire, an initiative funded by York and North Yorkshire LEP aiming to help improve resilience and productivity in the farming sector. In April 2021 Madge was elected to the Board of the newly formed Hull and East Riding LEP as their rural champion.
NICK COSLETT
TRUSTEE, BALI CHALK FUND
Nick initially trained as a Landscape Architect and worked as a Landscape Manager in local authorities and finally as the Parks Manager at Canterbury. He then brought his customer experience to two Kent nurseries; Coblands Nurseries and finally Palmstead Nurseries.
Nick was Chair of the BALI South Thames region on three occasions and on the committee for over 20 years. He also held the National Chair role at BALI and was on the Judging Panel for the National Landscape Awards for close to 5 years up to 2005, returning in 2020. Having now retired, Nick is a GoLandscape Ambassador and BALI Chalk Fund Trustee.