One word…WOW!

Don’t worry I’m not going to get all emotional on you, I did enough of that in my two-year anniversary blog. I do though want to share with you my amazing day at the Garden Media Guild Industry Awards which took place on Thursday 23rd November.

It was a day I had been looking forward to and in all honesty working towards all year, a day when the best in garden media, and me, ooo….I guess I’m one of them now, maybe. Anyway, come together and celebrate the successes of the year across all media. Including journalism, photography, TV, Radio, Books, Media Apps, Blogs and very importantly, the rising New Talent making big hopeful strides towards the top of the industry.

This year it was held at The Savoy in London, a real treat and chance for so many to take off their gardening gloves, put down their pens or camera and get dressed up in to something a little fancy.

Champagne being poured announced the start of the Drinks Reception, a chance to mingle and have a good chat before the main event. It was fantastic to catch up with such wonderful like-minded people, finally getting to meet many face to face instead of just online. A great opportunity to introduce myself to those I had never met before too.

It’s amazing how fast an hour goes when you are having so much fun, but the call to move to the main awards hall was made and we all followed orders to find our allocated seats.

As a girl who loves her food I was super impressed to see that my starter, an artichoke, pear and feta combination which turned out to be absolutely delicious was already waiting at my table place. In fact all three courses and the magically refilling red wine were super tasty.

Food eaten, the awards could now truly begin!

Clare Foggett, chairman of the Guild opened the occasion giving thanks to the members in attendance and the sponsors of the event, who can I say came together to give us a fantastic goody bag! Thank you, you lovely lot! No pressure for 2018!

The renowned Gyles Brandreth took over the stage before the presentations began, giving an insightful and humorous speech. My favourite line which I must share was around how in a world of so much negativity and disastrous events, it was great for him to be in a room full of people all sharing happiness and passion for colour, positivity and life. I had never thought of it like that but it is so true!

I won’t go through all the awards, the finalists and the winners, you can check out all that exciting information by heading to the official website.

I will of course though touch on The Alan Titchmarsh New Talent of the Year Award, which I had entered a couple of months prior. My bones shook and my stomach certainly turned when the time arrived for the finalists and the lucky winner to be announced. Although I didn’t get to take the winners walk to the stage, I certainly felt like a winner! It truly is a huge honour to have been announced as a finalist in this category and I am incredibly proud. A fantastic way to wrap up what has been a rollercoaster year, getting me revved and ready for 2018!

Watch a video of all my favourite highlights from the event by clicking on the thumbnail image below, including speaking to a very happy Stephanie Hafferty about her now award-winning book, No Dig Organic Home and Garden which she co-wrote with Charles Dowding. You will also recognise the familiar faces of good friend Lee aka Skinny Jean Gardener and many from the blogging elite including Agents of Field, Caro Shrives, Andrew O’Brien, Alexandra Campbell and Jack Wallington.

Lastly, I want to finish by giving a huge thanks to all the judges and the committee at the Garden Media Guild, particularly Clare, who I know was secretly waiting for 5pm so she could truly relax…..you did an amazing job!

Most importantly, to you, reading this….thank you!