Natural Paving Products were once again faced with an impressive number of high quality and innovative entries from landscaping professionals for its 2013 Approved Scheme Members Quality Awards. With just over 50 entries shortlisted across the three categories, the final stage of judging in early January was quite a task. However after tough deliberations, Natural Paving Products is pleased to reveal the winners of its 2013 annual quality awards:

The Best Patio Award goes to Greenbelt Landscapes

The Best Driveway Award goes to TDS Paving and Landscaping

The Best Overall Design goes to Cotswold Paving and Landscaping

Greenbelt Landscapes, based in the North West, are no strangers to winning and after a number of Premier Gold Medals at various RHS Flower Shows in 2013, were an obvious choice for Best Patio, after submitting a stunning and highly technical project. The winning installation took the form of Indian Cornsilk sandstone flags, which turned a normal garden into a modern day sanctuary, finished with immense detail and outstanding specification.

TDS Paving and Landscaping from the South East took the winners prize for Best Driveway with an installation that made clever use of design and space, creating an impressive and desirable connection from home to garage. The installation of Rustic Quartz quartzite and Midnight Blue limestone block paving was laid expertly and made excellent use of the contrasting colours of the natural stone used.

Cotswolds Paving and Landscaping based in the South West claimed the Best Overall Design with a highly innovative, intricate and exquisite design. Creating the outdoor space for such a stunning property was not going to be easy, however Cotswold Paving and Landscaping created the homeowners, a garden to match the grandeur and beauty of their home. The Ivory Sandstone flags used for the whole installation gave the design a continuous and modern feel. However, Cotswold Paving and Landscaping used clever design techniques and technical prowess to create a number of bespoke patterns with the stone, using Ivory to create steps, pool sides, copings and a myriad of other distinct areas within the outdoor space.

In a closely contested battle, the deserving runners up include: Chris Williams Landscapes, who claimed the runner up prize for Best Patio with a truly bespoke patio for a well known professional Darts player, that paid homage to the homeowner’s sporting skills. Cotswolds Paving and Landscaping also took a second prize in the Best Driveway category, with a superb job on a domestic driveway, using Rustic Quartz block paving. Greenbelt Landscapes took the runner up prize for Best Overall Design, with an inspiring design for a domestic property using Pumice sandstone flags.

The design included bespoke cut pieces of the stone to create contemporary yet classic circular features and crisp pathways. The most pleasing element is the joy that the new garden has brought to the homeowner, who has personally been in touch to thank both Greenbelt Landscapes and Natural Paving.

With such an overwhelming amount of entries that focused on a wide range of landscaping aspects it felt only right to reward and recognise further entries with Highly Commended Awards. Chris Taylor Landscaping takes a Highly Commended for a modest in size yet interesting and perfect installation using Teal limestone flags. Landtech also received a Highly Commended for an installation that featured a stunning natural stone wall using Meadow sandstone cobbles, perfectly enclosing an outdoor space and complementing the modern property.

Two other Highly Commended prizes have also been awarded, under the Best Patio category to Snapdragon for using a classic Indian Lakeland sandstone project pack in a contemporary and innovative way, and Pickwell Paving who used a single size York Grey sandstone flag, edged with Midnight Blue blocks also, to create a beautiful entrance to a large family home.

Natural Paving would like to thank everyone who entered the awards, all of whom made the judging challenging yet an honour, due to the high levels of quality craftsmanship and innovative, inspiring designs. All of the winners will receive cheques for £500, runners up a cheque for £250 each and Highly Commended awards with a prize of £100. Some of the pictures of the winning installations will also be featured in the 2014 Natural Paving brochure and on the new forthcoming website, due out in February.

Natural Paving’s Marketing Manager, Rebecca Hughes, commented “The awards really showcase the talent within our scheme members and industry, I wish we could offer a prize to all entries, as they are all worthy!”

Natural Paving is also close to launching a revised and refreshed Approved Members Scheme, as following consultation with its existing membership during 2013, the company are responding to feedback with a few scheme enhancements.

Rebecca continued: “I am pleased to say that it will remain free to join and we’ll continue to provide members with product guarantees. The main enhancements focus on making the scheme more accessible and applicable to all landscaping professionals. We are also tailoring the support we give to suit the needs of each individual member, whether they be an installer or designer.”