Our Judges 2020

Edward Mairis is director and founder of Xardin Garden. Since his horticultural training at the prestigious Merrist Wood College over 28 years ago, he has built an award winning career in landscape and construction that extends across the UK and abroad, encompassing private gardens, tourist and golf resorts across Europe and the Caribbean, as well as numerous Garden Shows.  This breadth of experience, which has expanded his garden knowledge to include semi tropical and tropical disciplines, allows him and his team of specialists to execute complex garden designs with the highest of sophistication.

His many accolades include the Daily Mail’s “Best Almeria Award” for his work at the Desert Springs Resort and the Bentley International Property Award for Best Development, as well as the Spanish National Madera Verde Prize for Environmentally Sensitive Development.  Closer to home, Edward has won gold for his work at the 2015 RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, bronze at Hampton Court in 2017, as well as bronze at RHS Cardiff and silver gilt at RHS Chatsworth in 2019. This gives him a first hand understanding of the process and judging criteria for RHS Show Gardens, which he aims to share through this award.

Steven is Managing Director of London Stone. As a key figure in the industry, he brings a wealth of experience to our judging panel. Having been in the industry for over twenty years, Steve has a broad knowledge of landscape construction and design. Beginning his career in the sector as a hard landscaper, Steve went on to co-found London Stone with his brothers, Gavin and Duncan. London Stone have become synonymous with state of the art technical innovations that continually push boundaries in the landscape design industry. The company boasts five showrooms across the South East of England, and has concession partners in Cheshire, Cornwall and West Sussex. In 2018, London Stone won their inaugural BALI Principal Award in the Affiliate Exceptional Service category; the same year as winning the Supplier – Manufacturer Award at the 2018 APL Awards.

London Stone have become the ‘go-to’ hard landscaping materials supplier for designers and landscapers when it comes to RHS Shows, and the company has supplied materials and bespoke manufacturing services to numerous award winning show gardens and trade stands across RHS Flower Shows and Garden Festivals. Xardin are very proud to have the honour of this hard won experience helping to find the next emerging design talent.