Meet the GARDENA Top of the Plots 2026 winners, celebrating inspiring gardens, allotments, community projects and the next generation of growers across the UK.
Meet the gardeners inspiring the nation to grow
From wildlife-friendly bank yard jungles and productive allotments to inspiring community gardens and young growers discovering the joys of gardening, growing (and eating) the GARDENA Top of the Plots 2026 winners showcase the incredible things that happen when passion, creativity and a love of growing come together.
2026 was an incredible year for Top of the Plots, despite increasingly challenging growing conditions, entries from across the country poured in, creating some really tough challenges for our judges; there was so much goodness.
But we’re delighted to celebrate the gardeners, families, schools and communities whose plots stood out to our judges. Announced at a special celebration at Blenheim Palace, this year’s winners demonstrate that great gardening isn’t just about what you grow. It’s about the stories behind every space, the people it brings together and the incredible difference it can make.
Now, it’s time to meet the 2026 winners.
Overall Winner & Best Garden Plot: Rebecca and Jean Reno, Morpeth
A garden with purpose, passion and nature at its heart. A love letter to Rebecca's husand, and living proof of the positive impact gardening can have.
Transforming an overgrown space into a thriving permaculture garden, Rebecca and Jean Reno have created a truly inspiring plot in Morpeth, Northumberland. Their garden brings together productive growing, wildlife and sustainability, with rescue chickens, wildlife ponds and a flourishing food forest.
More than a beautiful place to grow, their garden has a wider purpose, helping raise funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. Their achievement is a wonderful example of how a garden can nourish people, support nature and make a meaningful difference beyond its boundaries.
Huw’s Pick of the Plots: Liena, Derbyshire
Liena’s garden is a personal and ever-evolving space where family heirlooms, childhood memories, seasonal flowers, homegrown food and wildlife come together. From fruit trees, to hedgehog houses and bug hotels, pollinators and a haven for bats, Liena's garden is a true celebration of gardening’s ability to connect us with our past while giving us something to nurture in the present. Liena's plot stood out to head judge, Huw Richards as a truly individual expression of the grow-your-own spirit.
Best Allotment: Marketa, Coventry
A productive escape filled with colour and life.
Inspired by childhood memories of her parents’ allotment in the Czech Republic, Marketa has created a vibrant, productive growing space of her own in just 3 years. Filled with fruit, vegetables, flowers and wildlife, her allotment offers a welcome escape from busy city life while celebrating the simple satisfaction of growing something from the ground up. Marketa's allotment is a beautiful return to her roots, reliving the memories spent growing food with her parents, and reliving these memories with her own daughter.
Best Small Plot: Mark, Somerset
Big growing ambitions in a compact space.
Mark proves that you don’t need a large garden to achieve impressive things. His garden measures just 11ft by 18ft, yet clever use of vertical growing, hydroponics and innovative planting techniques helps him make the most of every inch.
His plot is a brilliant reminder that limited space needn’t limit your imagination, with a little creativity, even the smallest garden can deliver plenty of growing potential. Mark's plot shows the power of growing the things you love for the people you love, whether that's tomatoes for pasta sauces, or basil for Pesto, there's so much you can do in so little space.
Best New Plot: Francesca, Surrey
A new growing journey with an inspiring start.
Francesca and her husband have made an impressive start with their first-year allotment, turning a blank canvas into productive vegetable beds with fruit trees, wildlife ponds and flower-filled borders.
Their achievement highlights what can happen when thoughtful planning, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn come together. Their plot is an inspiring example for anyone beginning their own grow-your-own journey.
Best Community Plot: Missenden Walled Garden CIO
Growing together, creating opportunities and building confidence.
Missenden Walled Garden demonstrates the power of gardening to bring people together and open up new opportunities. Its therapeutic horticulture project supports adults with learning disabilities to develop practical skills while growing fruit, vegetables and flowers and caring for beehives.
By creating an inclusive environment where people can learn, contribute and flourish, the project shows how a growing space can nurture far more than plants.
Kids on the Plot: Trawden Forest Primary School, Lancashire
Growing curious minds, one plant at a time.
At Trawden Forest Primary School, gardening is helping the next generation discover the excitement of growing. From melons and squash to a much-loved pink banana plant, the school’s vibrant garden encourages pupils to explore food production, wildlife conservation and sustainability.
It’s a wonderful example of how getting children involved in gardening can nurture curiosity, build confidence and inspire a lifelong appreciation of the natural world. With head gardeners and deputy heads, this is a project that stays close to the childrens' hearts, as they return to check on the garden, even after they've moved on, which Mrs Nelson is always happy to see.
Growing something bigger than a garden
Every year, Top of the Plots reminds us that gardening means something different to everyone. For some, it’s the satisfaction of harvesting homegrown food. For others, it’s a place to reconnect with nature, spend time with family, learn new skills or make a difference in their community.
What unites our winners is their passion for making the most of the spaces they have, their willingness to experiment and their determination to keep growing, whatever the conditions.
At GARDENA, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joy of gardening. Whether you’re tending a few pots on a patio, making the most of a small back garden or bringing a whole community together around an allotment, every plot has the potential to flourish.
We’d like to congratulate all our 2026 winners and finalists, and thank everyone who entered and shared their growing stories with us. A special thank you goes to our ambassador and head judge, Huw Richards, our judging panel, the National Allotment Society and everyone who helped bring this year’s competition to life.
Here’s to celebrating Britain’s growers, inspiring more people to get growing and helping every plot flourish.
