British Recycled Plastic

Winning Gold at the Harrogate Flower Show doesn't happen by accident. As a Material Innovation Partner for Common Ground — the 2026 Gold Award-winning garden designed by FDA Landscape and built by J Paxman Landscapes — British Recycled Plastic had a front-row seat to what makes a show garden truly stand out.

Below are some of our tips for creating a stand-out show garden that will leave a lasting impression.

1. Start with Community

The most memorable show gardens aren't just beautiful — they provide lasting value. From day one, Common Ground was built around a genuine community purpose, with a post-show future already planned before a single spade hit the ground. After wowing thousands of visitors in Harrogate and attracting coverage from ITV and BBC News, the garden has settled in its permanent home at Project Colt, a Yorkshire-based charity working to support people in recovery. Common Ground is now part of a thriving community garden, filled with vegetables and herbs for local people to enjoy.

2. Commit to Your Theme

The best show gardens have a clear visual identity. In Common Ground, that running theme was community and togetherness. With the help of Yorkshire artist Serena Rogers and other members of Project Colt, the vibrant ‘TOGETHER’ mural sat at the heart of the garden, alongside hand-painted pebbles which were woven into the garden wall. This unique artwork elevated Common Ground to be something truly special, reflecting the creativity, passion, and even the lush green landscape found in abundance over at Project Colt.

3. Design for Adaptability

One of the key decisions made early in the Common Ground project was choosing materials and structures that could be dismantled and relocated with ease. British Recycled Plastic’s modular Parklets — used as the garden's planter and seating structure — were perfect for the job as they are designed to be reconfigured and rehomed. Adaptability wasn’t an afterthought or coincidence; it's a design principle that lies at the heart of Common Ground.

4. Sustainability is More Than a Talking Point

Sustainability was one of the core tenets of Common Ground. Featuring 100% recycled plastic Parklets from British Recycled Plastic, as well as reclaimed timber forming the stunning garden archway, the material choices resonated with visitors and judges alike — reflecting the garden's community values both in theme and in practice. Judges praised the thoughtful blend of planting, timber, and planters beneath the tree canopy, noting how the planter seating brought a sense of symmetry to the oak seating area and tied the whole space together.

5. Work with the Right Team

Common Ground was a true team effort, and its Gold Award is a reflection of what can be achieved when passionate people and organisations come together around a shared vision. British Recycled Plastic were pleased to once again be working with J Paxman Landscapes, who not only delivered the build, but took the lead on coordinating each contributor to bring every element together seamlessly. Their trust and experience with our recycled plastic materials helped ensure that the project was a huge success.

Jason Elliott, Director at British Recycled Plastic, reflected on the team’s contribution to Common Ground:

"Being part of a Gold-winning garden at Harrogate is something the whole British Recycled Plastic team is incredibly proud of. Common Ground is a perfect example of how sustainable materials don't have to compromise on quality or ambition — in fact, they can elevate a project entirely. What makes this one extra special is that the garden lives on as a genuine community asset. That's exactly what we're about: products built to last, in spaces that matter to people."

Congratulations to the entire team for their involvement:

Association of Professional Landscapers
British Recycled Plastic
FDA Landscape
Freddie Mcguire, Woodturner
J Paxman Landscapes
JTD Building Supplies, Holmfirth
Project Colt
Serena Rogers

We can’t wait to see what next year brings!

Looking to bring that same thinking to your own outdoor space? Our modular Parklets are built for exactly this kind of project — durable, sustainable, and designed to go wherever they're needed.

Visit britishrecycledplastic.co.uk to find out more, or contact on [email protected] / 01422 419 555

We are pleased to announce that British Recycled Plastic are a preferred supplier for Justin Paxman in preparation for their feature garden at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show 2026, fresh off their Premier Gold win from the previous year.

This year’s entry contains our recycled plastic Parklets, which will then be donated to Project Colt as part of their important mission to bring together their local community, joining the recycled plastic accessibility benches which we donated back in 2023.

For April 2026, J Paxman Landscapes presents “Common Ground” - a small urban garden that combines outdoor seating with lush greenery. This compact yet powerful garden provides a valuable outdoor space within dense urban environments, where people from all walks of life can sit, grow, relax, and connect.

The design has been led by the prestigious FDA Landscape with the help of Serena Rogers, an award-winning artist whose floral artwork and inclusive approach has encouraged members of the community to contribute their art to Common Ground.

Durable, Low-Maintenance Solution for Outdoor Spaces

Built using British Recycled Plastic’s unique modular Parklets, 'Common Ground' is a versatile space that aims to support both people and plants as they continue to grow.

The recycled plastic Parklets help to ensure that the garden is long lasting and protected from the elements, making it accessible to the community year round. Its modular design will allow Common Ground to be adapted and transported, creating the ideal natural space for shared activities. The standout feature of Parklets is that they can be fully customised to suit the needs of the space - a process we thoroughly enjoy using our miniature Parklet models that help bring ideas to life.

British Recycled Plastic’s Planter and Parklet range is rot-free, splinter-free, non-porous and highly resistant to weathering, making it the perfect way to transform landscapes and gardens where space is limited, providing long-lasting positive social impact.

Made using our Marsden Planters, each Parklet’s black colour retains heat from the sun, helping plants and soil to thrive in all conditions. They can be placed in a range of urban venues including streets, pubs, and pavements, brightening outdoor spaces and improving biodiversity - ensuring that the outdoors can truly be enjoyed by everyone.

We encourage everyone to attend the Harrogate Spring Flower Show from 23rd-26th April, where Common Ground will be displayed alongside a range of garden features, talks, and more as part of England’s biggest floral exhibition of 2026.

Sponsors and Collaborators:

Association of Professional Landscapers

British Recycled Plastic

FDA Landscape

Freddie Mcguire, Woodturner

J Paxman Landscapes

JTD Building Supplies, Holmfirth

Project Colt

Serena Rogers

For more information on modular Parklets and garden inspiration, visit the blog on the British Recycled Plastic website: www.britishrecycledplastic.co.uk/press 

Or contact us on [email protected] / 01422 419 555

British Recycled Plastic has expanded its recycled plastic lumber range with the launch of two new colours — Sand and Dark Grey — providing contractors, specifiers and procurement teams with greater flexibility for external works, housing and public realm projects.

The new finishes sit alongside the company’s established Black and Brown ranges, giving project teams a broader choice of durable, low-maintenance materials that can better align with modern architectural and landscape specifications.

The launch reflects growing demand across construction and public sector projects for materials that combine whole-life durability with design-led finishes, particularly within housing developments, education estates, healthcare sites and local authority upgrades.

Jason Elliott, Founder of British Recycled Plastic, said:

“Across construction and external works, we’re seeing more projects where visual consistency is just as important as long-term durability. The introduction of Sand and Dark Grey gives contractors and specifiers more freedom to meet aesthetic requirements while still choosing a material that is rot-free, low maintenance and built for long service life.”

New Colour Options for Modern Specification Requirements

The new Sand finish has been developed for schemes where lighter surfaces improve usability and complement softer landscape palettes, making it well suited to play areas, visitor spaces, coastal developments, education settings and public access routes.

The Dark Grey finish is aimed at contemporary housing schemes, urban regeneration, mixed-use developments and civic environments, where it pairs naturally with steel, concrete, paving and other modern construction materials.

The wider colour range supports more informed material selection across:

- visible seating and touch surfaces
- fencing and boundary treatments
- raised beds and planters
- edging and retaining features
- subframes and structural supports
- walkways, boardwalks and access routes

For projects requiring both performance and presentation, Black remains ideal for structural or hidden elements, while Sand or Dark Grey can be used for exposed finishes and user-facing surfaces.

Practical Guidance on Selecting the Right Finish

To help specifiers and contractors choose the most suitable colour, British Recycled Plastic has also published a supporting guide: “Why Colour Choice Matters For Artificial Lumber.”

The blog helps project teams assess the best finish based on:

- project sector and end use
- user interaction and comfort
- surrounding construction materials
- dirt visibility in high-traffic areas
- planning and design requirements
- visual scale across open spaces

This makes it easier to select the right lumber colour for sectors such as schools, NHS estates, housing developments, parks and local authority public realm works.

Same Proven Performance, More Design Flexibility

The new colours are backed by the same core performance benefits that make recycled plastic lumber increasingly popular across the construction sector.

The material is rot-free, splinter-free and non-porous, with no need for painting, staining or preservative treatment. It offers a 25-year guarantee, helping reduce ongoing maintenance costs and improve whole-life asset value.

Available now, the new Sand and Dark Grey finishes give contractors and specifiers greater freedom to meet project design goals without compromising on durability or maintenance performance.

For more info go to: https://britishrecycledplastic.co.uk/recycled-artificial-lumber-colours/

British Recycled Plastic has introduced a new stainless steel bench range, providing contractors and project teams with a durable seating solution for public realm, commercial, and infrastructure schemes.

The range has been developed in response to increasing demand for low-maintenance external furniture capable of performing in high-traffic and exposed environments. Suitable for town centre upgrades, transport settings, coastal locations, and commercial developments, the benches offer a long-term alternative to materials that require regular treatment or early replacement.

Manufactured from corrosion-resistant stainless steel, the benches are designed to maintain their structural integrity and appearance over many years of outdoor use. This makes them particularly suited to projects where whole-life performance and reduced maintenance liabilities are key considerations.

Jason Elliott - Founder of British Recycled Plastic said:
“Launching our stainless steel range allows us to support more architectural and infrastructure projects with specification-grade seating, while staying true to what we’ve always believed — that outdoor furniture should be built to last.”

Alongside the new stainless steel range, the company continues to supply its established recycled plastic seating products, widely used across parks, education settings, and community environments.

Full specification details and installation guidance are available via the company website. (www.britishrecycledplastic.co.uk) or you can give their expert team a call on 01422 419 555