A Belfast landscape gardening business has won a coveted award for its work on a private garden.

Cameron Landscapes won the Bog Oak Trophy for best overall scheme at the 2008 Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland (ALCI) Landscape Awards.

The awards recognise the best private and commercial landscaping schemes in Ireland. Cameron Landscapes was honoured for its work at a private garden in Moneyreagh, Co Down.

The family-run company, which has been in business for 40 years, received the award from ALCI president Michael Pollock and Dr Malcom McKibbin, permanent secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Geoffrey Cameron, the director of Cameron Landscapes and designer of the winning scheme, said: “With more than 100 entries this year we’re delighted that this private garden scheme, which took 18 months to complete, stood out among the strong competition.”

The company has won the Bog Oak Trophy five times, including for landscaping at the cancer unit in Belfast City Hospital in 2005. Mr Cameron said landscaping had changed as a business in recent times.

“While we still retain a lot of public sector and commercial work, we’ve definitely experienced a noticeable increase in the private, residential side of our business over the last few years,” continued Geoffrey.

“This is a trend we’ve seen emerging as more and more homeowners realise the benefit of a well landscaped garden, whether that’s to increase the value of a property, attract wildlife or simply to enjoy it while living there.”

Cameron Landscapes employs 50 people and has worked on major commercial projects including The Outlet, The Odyssey, Custom House Square and Titanic Quarter.