A proud moment for decking excellence

The APL Awards matter. They recognise genuine quality in UK landscaping. They reward skill, judgement, and craftsmanship on site. That is exactly why this result deserves proper applause.

This year, the Decking Feature category brought together three strong finalists. Ellicar, Kingfisher Decking Ltd, and The London Decking Company each reached the shortlist with schemes that showed a high level of care and professionalism. To become a finalist in this field is an achievement in itself. It reflects serious standards, strong execution, and work that stands up to scrutiny.

Now the result is in. Kingfisher Decking Ltd, led by Ricky Jones, has won the APL Awards 2026 Decking Feature category with the project Woodstock. It is a superb result for the business, for the project team, and for quality decking within the wider landscaping sector.

The Decking Network got to shout it loudly… “Kingfisher decking wins”…

Congratulations to all of the finalists

Before focusing on the winner, it is important to recognise the strength of the category. This was not a weak field. Quite the opposite. The finalists represented three different expressions of modern decking, and each deserved its place on the shortlist.

Ellicar brought forward a project that felt calm, deliberate, and highly architectural. The London Decking Company presented a scheme built around precision, alignment, and crisp modern detailing. Kingfisher Decking Ltd offered something that felt immediately liveable, comfortable, and beautifully resolved for everyday use. Together, those projects showed exactly why decking remains one of the most important elements in contemporary garden construction.

All three finalists should be proud. Reaching this stage at the APL Awards is a mark of quality. It shows commitment to doing things properly. Demonstrating that good decking is never just about boards and fixings. It is about levels, thresholds, flow, usability, finish, and the confidence to deliver a scheme that feels right as a complete outdoor space.

Ricky Jones and Kingfisher Decking deserve huge praise

A heartfelt congratulations must go to Ricky Jones and everyone at Kingfisher Decking Ltd. Winning an APL Award is not handed out lightly. It is earned through workmanship, judgement, and the ability to deliver a scheme that performs as well as it looks.

Woodstock clearly struck that balance. It is a project that feels refined without becoming cold. It feels practical without losing a sense of luxury. More importantly, it looks like a garden that invites people outside and encourages them to use the space properly. That is a difficult thing to achieve well, and Kingfisher Decking has done it with confidence. Kingfisher decking wins…

This is the kind of recognition that means something. It shows that excellent decking still commands respect when it is designed and built with care. It also reinforces the value of specialist knowledge in a sector where the small details often make the biggest difference.

A winning garden that feels elegant, usable, and calm

From the published coverage and available project imagery references, Woodstock reads as a contemporary garden built around outdoor living. The deck appears light in tone, which helps the whole garden feel brighter and more open. That choice gives the project a fresh and modern character, while also allowing the surrounding planting and furnishings to stand out with clarity.

The overall impression is one of practical luxury. The layout appears to support entertaining, relaxing, and easy movement through the garden. It does not feel forced or overworked. Instead, it feels resolved. The deck seems to sit naturally within the wider scheme, rather than shouting for attention. That composure is often the sign of a very good project.

One of the strongest qualities appears to be the way the planting softens the perimeter. Strong decking can sometimes feel too hard at the edges if the garden has not been handled well. Here, the planted margins seem to settle the structure into the landscape and create a more generous, inviting finish. The result is polished, but still warm. Modern, but still welcoming.

Ricky said “Millboard was the only real choice for this project, stylish and sophisticated. I like millboard”

There is also a sense that the garden has been designed for real people and real use. Good award-winning work does not rely on photography alone. It needs to function. Woodstock appears to do exactly that. It looks like a garden that works in daily life, while still carrying the visual standard expected from an APL-winning scheme.

Karl Harrison is proud to present this award on behalf of Decking Network

As category partner, Decking Network is proud to support the Decking Feature award once again. The category reflects everything that matters in this part of the industry. It rewards the firms that understand design intent, technical delivery, and the importance of getting the details right. The published finalists page notes that Decking Network has sponsored these awards for the third year running.

Karl Harrison is excited and honoured to present this prestigious award on behalf of Decking Network. Championing high standards in decking matters greatly. So does celebrating the contractors who continue to raise the bar for the whole profession. Awards like this help shine a light on the people and companies who prove that quality still matters, and that proper decking deserves proper recognition.

For Decking Network, this is about more than a trophy. It is about supporting excellence and backing firms that care about craftsmanship. It is also about showing homeowners, designers, and the wider landscaping trade what truly good decking looks like when it is done with skill and purpose.

Why this award matters to the industry

The APL Awards remain one of the strongest markers of quality in UK landscaping. They are respected because they focus on standards, not hype. That is precisely why a result like this carries weight. It tells the market that Kingfisher Decking Ltd has delivered work that stands out in a serious field.

It also sends a broader message. Decking, when specified and installed well, can transform the way a garden works. It can improve movement, create outdoor rooms, sharpen relationships with the house, and lift the whole user experience of a space. The best projects do all of that quietly. They feel natural. They feel effortless. Yet that apparent ease is usually the product of real expertise.

That is why Woodstock deserves this recognition. It shows how good decking can anchor a modern garden and support the way people want to live outside.

Final congratulations from Decking Network

Congratulations once again to Ricky Jones and Kingfisher Decking Ltd on winning the APL Awards 2026 Decking Feature category with Woodstock. It is a well-earned success and a proud moment for everyone involved.

Congratulations too to the other finalists, Ellicar and The London Decking Company, for reaching such a high level in a very strong category. The standard on show has been exceeded once again. Kingfisher decking wins was shouted rather loudly in the surrounding bars for many hours afterwards.

From all of us connected with Decking Network, well done. We are delighted to celebrate this year’s finalists, and especially pleased to recognise Kingfisher Decking Ltd as worthy winners of one of the most prestigious decking awards in the UK landscape industry.

Kingfisher Decking Wins