Hens help keep down the slug population and water butts and compost bins prove this gardens environmental credentials.

This healthy regime shines everywhere from the sweeping lavender border which wraps itself around the side of the house to the showstopping garden which lies beyond.

There are spectacular delphiniums, verbascum, showy hostas, white wisteria, roses, penstemons and the heavy fragrance of lilies on the air.

The diverse range of perennials is backed by choice specimen plants and the whole is underplanted with drifts of spring bulbs.

This is a garden for all moods and all seasons and who wouldnt want to escape to Maureens greenhouse on a rainy day where she lovingly tends an alpine bed as Bruce heads for the veg in the neighbouring glasshouse.

A garden to enjoy and in which to linger.

That was certainly the view of William Armitage from competition sponsors Armitages Garden Centres.

You dont just wander around the garden, you explore it. Theres something interesting happening everywhere. Its attractive, productive and very tranquil.

Graham Porter, the Examiners gardening writer and one of the competition judges said:Despite the rigours of two extremely bad winters and the driest spring in living memory, the standard of this years competition has been extremely high.

It has been good to have so many new gardens entered in this years competition and to see in gardens which we have seen before that the process of garden evolution is alive and well as people have developed and progressed their gardens.