Green-fingered Islanders came together at a ‘red carpet’ style awards ceremony, held at The Botanic Gardens in Ventnor yesterday (Wednesday), to find out how their horticultural and floral displays had been judged in this year’s Wight in Bloom campaign.
Managed by Visit Isle of Wight (VIOW) and co-funded by the DMO (Destination Marketing Organisation), Red Funnel Ferries and a range of sponsors, Wight in Bloom 2015 is being developed as a curtain-raiser to VIOW’s Garden Isle campaign, which will coincide with Visit England’s Year of the Garden 2016.
The awards were presented by the celebrity gardener and TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh, who was revealed as Patron of the newly introduced horticultural competition at a “floating garden” launch event held on board Red Funnel’s Red Eagle car ferry in May.
The results come after judges visited Island gardens earlier this summer. Entries were shortlisted for one of the nine awards on offer and judged by a team of volunteers that included Island horticultural businesses, as well as Peggy Jarman, Honorary President of Wight in Bloom.
Winners in each category received gardening vouchers and tools, sponsored by local garden centres and tourism businesses, in recognition for the skill and pride they displayed in their gardens and neighbourhoods.
With more than 100 entrants this year, including small and large front gardens, schools, community groups, towns and villages, the results announced at the prestigious awards ceremony were “blooming” marvellous in each of the nine categories.
Category 1 – Best Small Front Garden
Sponsored by Care in the Garden, Wootton
1st David Mansfield, Binstead
2nd Carol Pryke, Binstead
Highly Commended Pamela Toms, Northwood
Category 2 – Best Large Front Garden
Sponsored by Thompson Plant & Garden Centre
1st Hilary Wellsted, Bembridge
2nd Mr & Mrs Denness, Sandown
Highly Commended Mrs J Hinton, Niton
Category 3 – Best Public House Garden
Sponsored by Medina Garden Centre
1st The Buddle Inn, Niton
2nd The Dairyman’s Daughter, Arreton
Highly Commended Vernon Cottage Tearoom, Tavern and Restaurant
Category 4 – Best Accommodation Garden
Sponsored by Busy Bee Garden Centre
1st The Havelock
2nd Bembridge Coast Hotel
Highly Commended Heatherleigh Guest House
Category 5 – Best Senior Citizen Complex, Nursing Home, Care Home
Sponsored by Jubilee Garden Centre
1st Chemotherapy Garden, NHS Trust, St Marys Hospital
2nd Knights Court, Ventnor
Highly Commended The Briars, Sandown
Category 6 – Best Young People Initiative
Sponsored by Honnor & Jeffrey Garden Centre
1st Bembridge C of E Primary
2nd The Children’s House Montessori
Highly Commended Northwood Primary School
Category 7 – Best Community Floral Project
Sponsored by Ager Farm Nursery
1st Aspire, Trinity Building, Ryde
2nd East Cowes Floating Bridge and Carosal
– Care in the Garden, Wootton
Highly Commended War Memorial Gardens Bembridge
- Bembridge Weeders
Category 8 – Best Tourist Attraction Garden – Large
Sponsored by Forest View Nursery
1st Mottistone Gardens – National Trust
2nd Joint Osborne House – English Heritage
2nd Joint Ventnor Botanic Gardens
Best Tourist Attraction Garden – Small
Sponsored by Forest View Nursery
1st Rylstone Crazy Golf & Tea Gardens
2nd The Old Smithy, Godshill
Highly Commended Model Village, Godshill
Overall Winner
Sponsored by The Needles Landmark Attraction
Aspire, Trinity Building, Ryde (pictured)
Alan Titchmarsh MBE, VMH (Victoria Medal of Honour RHS), said:
“Today it is my pleasure and privilege to present these awards to such worthy winners. You have produced such stunning plant and floral displays which delight so many people on a daily basis.
“All our winners would, I am sure, have put their skills to good use without this competition but, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we are able to publicly reward our green- fingered Islanders and say thank you.”
David Thornton, CEO, Visit Isle of Wight, said:
“Alan’s involvement played a huge part in the promotion and success of the campaign and has meant that entries increased by more than 30% this year. This is a stunning result and I would like to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who made a special effort to make the Island look its best.”
