2026 Kent Life Garden of the Year celebration lunch

Kent Life magazine in partnership with Elysian Residents threw a lunchtime celebration at The Pavilion, Wildernesse House, to toast the winners of the 2026 Garden of the Year search.

Guest speakers on the day were Emily Backler, head of horticulture and impact at the Glasshouse and Lee Connelly, international children’s gardening coach.

Awards presented on the day, chosen from nominations from readers, included Community Garden of the Year, School Garden of the Year – Transformation Award, New School Garden of the Year, School Garden of the Year and Garden of the Year.

The day was hosted by editor Katy Pearson. She said: ‘It was a real pleasure to celebrate the fantastic gardening achievements taking place across Kent, from inspiring school gardens and community projects to the businesses and individuals helping to make Kent such a beautiful place to live and work.

‘A very special thank you must go to our wonderful sponsor, Elysian Residents, for helping us bring everyone together to celebrate the very best of Kent’s gardening community.’.

Celebrations on the day (Image: Richard Barker)

Eshan Rana, Ruth Craib and Kallen Li (Image: Richard Barker)

Derek Pannelle, Frieda Houghton, Martin Houghton and John Lockett (Image: Richard Barker)

Carrie Harman, Scout Harman and Maria Felicetti (Image: Richard Barker)

Guest speaker, Lee Connelly, International Children?s Gardening Coach. (Image: Richard Barker)

Emily and editor Katy Pearson who hosted the event (Image: Richard Barker)

The Kent Life team: Lynda Clark, Katy Pearson, Samantha Hellen, Sophie Bunch, Stephanie Griffin and Darron McLoughlin (Image: Richard Barker)

Carole McGill, Leny Coward and Maggie Axten (Image: Richard Barker)

Carrie Harman and Maria Felicetti from Stella Maris Catholic School (Image: Richard Barker)

Evie and Gemma Ross from Mereworth Community Primary School (Image: Richard Barker)

Katie Willis, Samantha Poynton and Yvonne Scoble from St Margaret’s at Troy Primary School (Image: Richard Barker)

Eileen Moss and Steve Wakeford from Captain’s Garden in Deal (Image: Richard Barker)

Hayley Leach from Rainham School for Girls (Image: Richard Barker)

Helen Millward, Amar Atwaland Tracey Goodwin from Steep Hill Independent School (Image: Richard Barker)

Lucy Hutchison from Brockhill Park Performing Arts College (Image: Richard Barker)

Eshan Rana, Ruth Craib and Kallen Li from Dartford Grammar School (Image: Richard Barker)

Tony Williams and Kit Bula from Mount Ephraim Garden (Image: Richard Barker)

Matt Allen from Dartford Science and Technology College (Image: Richard Barker)

Councillor Dr Merilyn Canet and Annette Whitney from Sevenoaks in Bloom (Image: Richard Barker)

AWARDS

Community Garden of the Year

Winner: Captain’s Garden, Deal Castle

Highly Commended: Sevenoaks in Bloom

School Garden of the Year – Transformation Award

Winner: St Margaret’s at Troy Primary School

New School Garden of the Year

Winner: Canterbury Road Primary School

Kent Life School Garden of the Year

Winner: Brockhill Park Performing Arts College

Highly Commended: Steephill Independent School

Finalists: Mereworth Community Primary School

Rainham School for Girls

Stella Maris Catholic Primary School

Dartford Grammar School

Dartford Science and Technology College

Kent Life Garden of the Year

Mount Ephraim