Gardening enthusiast from Bristol lands prestigious national award

Matthew Symonds was crowned B&Q Gardener of the Year at a ceremony attended by a judging panel including celebrity maître d’ Fred Sirieix.

Symonds will receive a £10,000 cash prize, a £2,500 B&Q gift card and B&Q’s highly coveted Golden Trowel for his innovative Best versatile garden.

Symonds has been working on his garden since he and his husband moved into the house nearly 20 years ago.

Since then, it has been a work in progress, transforming the 5.6m x 6.5m space from what was once a concrete square with weeds, into a cleverly designed multi-functional garden.

Symonds describes his gardening style as ‘trial and error’ which has resulted in his garden encompassing two entertaining areas, a greenhouse, a pond with a waterfall, a water butt that also hosts a potted lily, a place to store the bike and a myriad of plants including hydrangeas, hazel bamboo and roses ensuring every space is used.

Nature is encouraged too, with his beloved trees and pond providing a haven for wildlife and a nesting place for birds all year-round Symonds' split-level, urban garden highlights that any outdoor space can be made into a paradise, no matter the budget or space. 

Symonds now wants others to follow in his glittering gardening footsteps and said: “I am so honoured to be crowned B&Q’s Gardener of the Year!

"I love that every part of the garden has a purpose, some even two, and I hope that my garden can show people that gardening doesn’t require a large, sunny, open, green space.

"Instead, with some smart thinking and a lot of love, any space on any budget can become your own paradise. Working full time means most of my gardening is done at weekends, but it is never a chore, tending to my plants is my escape from life's stress and it allows me to immerse myself in my love of plants, which is why I am so grateful to be recognised for doing something I love.”

This year’s competition judges, including celebrity maître d’ Fred Sirieix, B&Q Outdoor Category Director, Steve Guy and award-winning garden designers, Matt Childs and Humaira Ikram, were particularly impressed by how brilliantly versatile Matthew’s garden is and how innovatively he has used a small space.

Whilst Matthew has won this year’s competition, he is certain that his garden will be a never-ending project, as he continues to develop it and tweak certain elements. Along with spending his prize on new plants, he is also hoping to book an international holiday, as it has always been his dream to see and be inspired by gardens in Japan and India. 

Reflecting on what made Matthew’s garden standout, award winning garden designer Matt Childs commented: “We loved how Matthew maximised the use of his small garden. It has everything you could want, from a cleverly designed bike storage’, to two entertaining areas complete with atmospheric lighting’, and even a pond. Every corner of the garden has a purpose, and you can see the thought and passion that has gone into his design”

Humaira Ikram, award-winning broadcaster and garden designer, also explained: “My favourite thing about this garden is how Matthew has considered the use of every inch of the garden effectively. There seems to be dual use for many elements, from the water butt topped with plants to bring even more greenery into his oasis, to the hidden air-source heat pump disguised beneath a shelf of potted plants. I’m amazed by his creativity and his garden is definitely a stand-out.”

In its third year, the 2023 competition sought to celebrate and recognise the best gardens and outdoor spaces that fill lives with creativity, colour and joy, through the theme of Great British Garden Party. Gardeners were encouraged to follow more sustainable practices and allow nature to thrive, whilst also demonstrating how ingenuity outranks investment and the best gardens don’t have to cost the world. Categories included: Best nature loving garden, Best foodie garden, Best versatile garden and Best show-stopping garden.  

Fred Sirieix, Celebrity judge of B&Q’s Gardener of the Year 2023 says: “Wow, what a garden! I can’t believe everything you can do in it. At first glance it might seem like a regular garden filled with beautiful plants, but as we looked closer, we uncovered more and more elements that made this garden so special. Although judging all the entries was tough with so many wonderful gardens, this one stood out for his ingenuity in the Best versatile garden category. I might even have to steal some tips and tricks from him!”

Steve Guy, B&Q Outdoor Category Director says: “Congratulations Matthew! At B&Q, we celebrate gardens of all shapes and sizes, and Matthew’s garden is an inspiration for all that no matter how big or small your garden is or what your budget it you can create a green space that suits your lifestyle. Matthew’s garden is one-of-a-kind and we loved how innovative it is whilst incorporating sustainable practices. Whilst the Best versatile garden took the top prize, we were pleased to see the Best nature loving garden receive the most entries and were very impressed by all – from the colourful show-stopping gardens to the enviable foodie gardens and the nature-loving gardens that you wish you could explore. This is our third annual B&Q Gardener of the Year and we’re looking forward to continuing to encourage Britain’s passion for gardening with our great value plants and outdoor range.”

Alongside the B&Q Gardener of the Year, three runners up were chosen from the remaining categories, each of whom will be awarded £1,000. With an incredible portfolio of entries this year, Best nature loving garden received the most entries of any category. The winner of the Best nature loving garden category is Emese Peter, Best foodie garden is Liena Legzdina and the winner of the Best showstopping garden is Elizabeth Winiarski. 

The Community Garden of the Year award was also back for a third year this year. With a £2,500 B&Q gift card won by The Walled Garden in Perth, Scotland. This award celebrates an outdoor space which has been created by the community with the aim of improving the life and wellbeing of those in the surrounding area. The garden is a tranquil space for everyone, not only is it a safe and welcoming space for wildlife and for those with poor mental health and wellbeing issues to engage in garden skills, but also a place to grow plants which are then sold to the public. The Walled Garden shone through in this category and B&Q are excited to see what they do with their prize money.

To create your own award-winning outdoor space, B&Q has a wide range of products available for every garden size and budget in over 300 B&Q stores nationwide, and on diy.com, to help you become the next B&Q Gardener of the Year.