What a blooming talented lot we are!
Marsden man Len Smith has taken the top prize in Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing’s annual gardening competition.
But the juidges were impressed with many of the gardens they visited.
Now in its ninth year, the competition attracted dozens of entries from every part of Kirklees.
The overall winner was Len, whose beautiful hillside garden in the Colne Valley captured the judges’ attention as soon as they stepped through the gate.
Len was taken aback by the award: “I can honestly say that I am absolutely astounded that my small garden, which is so hard to cultivate, has won overall best garden in Kirklees.
“It’s a great result for Marsden because one of my neighbours has also won an award for her garden.
“We’re really keen to get others on board for next year, so we can enter the ‘best street’ category.”
Len was presented his award of £100 in gardening vouchers, by Stuart Ambler from Barclays Bank, who kindly donated the prize.
Former Examiner gardening expert, Graham Porter, who headed up the judging panel, said: “This year’s competition included a much larger number of retirement living schemes than we have had in the past and we were amazed at the time and effort that people have put in to helping to make communal spaces so beautiful, often with limited resources.
“Individual house gardens showed us once again how much commitment people can give to their homes so that their families and the surrounding communities can all benefit, whether through the growing of fruit and vegetables or through the use of flowers and other plants to enhance the appearance of their surroundings”.
Some of this year’s winners are no strangers to gardening glory. Rod McInnes from Longwood, won the ‘most helpful gardener’ category for the second year running, while the residents at Kings Court retirement living scheme in Birstall won the best use of communal space category for north Kirklees for a second time. Sharon Jackson, also from Birstall, won the award for best individual garden for north Kirklees after previously scooping the top prize in 2012.
The category winners were:
Best individual garden – Sharon Jackson, Birstall & Barbara Walsh, Marsden
Best use of small space – Lynda Barber and Andy Fagg, Dewsbury & Gina Pogson, Newsome
Best communal space – Kings Court retirement living scheme, Birstall & Lynroyd retirement living scheme, Linthwaite
Most helpful gardener – Rod McInnes, Longwood
Best school garden – St Thomas CE Primary, Bradley & Carlinghow Princess Royal, Batley
Cllr Cathy Scott, cabinet member for housing, said: “I’d like to thank all those who took part in the competition and congratulate the winners. Their gardens bring pleasure to their neighbours and help make sure their estates are attractive places to live.”
