Ground Control wins three National Landscape Awards

Awarded by the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) for "the very best in landscaping and horticulture"

The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) have revealed that Ground Control has received three prestigious 2026 National Landscape Awards. Judged by leading industry experts, the awards recognise excellence in landscape construction, design and environmental enhancement, celebrating projects that set the benchmark for quality across the UK landscaping sector.

Ground Control's 2026 BALI award-winning projects are:

Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, University of Oxford – Winner, Soft Landscaping Construction (Under £500K)
Leicestershire Police Headquarters – Winner, Hard Landscaping Construction (Under £500K)
Wildfell Centre for Environmental Recovery – Winner, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

Daniel Grix, Landscape, Design and Energy (LDE) Director, commented:

To see three distinct areas of our Landscape, Design and Energy division recognised by BALI is a fantastic achievement. These awards showcase the quality, expertise and dedication of our teams, from delivering exceptional hard and soft landscaping schemes to creating high-integrity biodiversity solutions. Winning three BALI Awards is a testament to the talent of our people and the outstanding results they deliver for our clients.

Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, University of Oxford

Winner, Soft Landscaping Construction (Under £500K)

Designed to create attractive, functional and welcoming outdoor environments, the landscaping works surrounding the Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities focused on four key areas: the Northern Formal Lawn, Northern Social Garden, Southern Entrance Plaza and Southeast Enclosed Garden.

The project transformed the campus setting through a carefully coordinated planting strategy, creating a cohesive sense of place across the development. Key landscaping features included:

Extensive tree planting integrated within hard and soft landscaped areas and raised planters
Diverse planting schemes incorporating free-standing planters, trellis planting and hedge borders
Bespoke planting palettes designed for varying site conditions, including sun, shade and canopy environments

Landscaped university courtyard with planted borders, pathways and steps leading towards a modern circular glass building, surrounded by contemporary stone and brick buildings.

Leicestershire Police Headquarters

Winner, Hard Landscaping Construction (Under £500K)

The project was a complete rebuild of an existing memorial garden at Leicestershire Police Headquarters, honouring all officers who lost their lives, with those who lost their lives in the line of duty at the centre. Designed to support reflection, remembrance and community connection, the scheme balances ceremonial significance with everyday use by police staff, visitors and the wider community.

The project combined sensitive landscape enhancements with high-quality hard landscaping works. Existing planting areas were revitalised, commemorative trees carefully relocated, memorial features restored, and new ornamental and native planting introduced to enhance both visual appeal and biodiversity.

At the heart of the scheme is a striking memorial wall and ceremonial space, delivered through extensive hard landscaping works including the lifting and relaying of existing cobbled surfaces, installation of new paving and edging, and integrated lighting infrastructure. Constructed using high-density concrete blockwork with premium stone-faced walling and coping systems, the memorial wall provides a durable and architecturally impressive focal point, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. The garden also includes colour-changing LEDs to light the wall for different remembrance days and to give greater meaning and reach to the memorial.

Accessible landscaped courtyard featuring paved walkways, lawn areas, timber pergolas with seating, and raised planting beds beside a modern building.

Wildfell Centre for Environmental Recovery

Winner, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

The Wildfell Centre for Environmental Recovery is Ground Control's largest landscape-scale nature recovery project, spanning 296 acres and creating a rich mosaic of habitats including grasslands, woodlands, wildflower meadows and wetlands.

The award recognises the project's innovative approach to landscape restoration, demonstrating Biodiversity Net Gain and carbon sequestration principles through design, delivery and long-term stewardship. By combining ecological enhancement with practical land management, the project highlights the growing role of landscape-led solutions in creating resilient, biodiverse environments while delivering lasting environmental value.

Aerial view of a rural landscape showing grassland fields, woodland, ponds and farm buildings, with large mown patterns visible across the countryside.

Each category also awards an overall ‘Principal Winner’, along with a ‘Grand Award ’, which includes all entrants, and is announced at the National Landscape Awards in December.