Kingswood Parks In-Bloom 2010

"We won a £2,000 garden makeover"

Our first year of Kingswood Parks In Bloom received a relatively low number of entries, but we are hoping that when readers of the Voice see the winning entries they will feel inspired to put their own gardens forward next year. Who know it could be you that wins our top prize in 2011! The competition was separated into two categories, Best Garden and Biggest Marrow. We had the best response rate to the Best Garden category, with the Biggest Marrow category close behind.

Our judging panel, led by gardening expert Catherine Barker from our landscaping consultants Landplan, spent a sunny Saturday walking around Kingswood Parks chatting to entrants and looking at their stunning gardens. After much deliberation, our judges managed to narrow it down to the very best and most deserving entrants. Now, we are proud to introduce our 2010 In Bloom winners, congratulations to you all and we look forward to seeing more of your gardens next year!

Start preparing for next year when we're thinking of offering a prize for Best Front Garden too!

The judging panel's decision was unanimous that this entry was the strongest candidate to win. The Frankish family have put a lot of effort into both the front and back garden and, although they have ambitions to do much more with it, on close inspection it's plain for all to see that they have already invested a lot of time and money into creating their own outdoor haven.

The whole family was very enthusiastic about entering In Bloom and even more excited to hear that they had won the competition. Dave Frankish, of Templewaters, said: "Before we moved to Kingswood Parks four years ago we didn't really have a garden, it was more of a Coronation Street style yard, so since we've been here my wife and daughter have spent a lot of time in the garden.

"I entered the competition for the two of them, it's all their hard work - I kill more plants than I grow! But they are fantastic, sometimes they are out there until late in the evening doing bits and bobs, I just get roped in when the lawn needs mowing.

"For us, everything is trial and error, we're still learning and just enjoying our hard work along the way. Hopefully with the prize from Kingswood Parks Development Company, we'll look at working with Landplan to add a water feature and a rockery to our garden. I think we struggle with what types of plants to include as well, hopefully we'll be able to get some advice on that."

The Frankish family are the lucky winners of a £2,000 garden makeover so watch out for the "after" pictures next time!

 

Winner of Biggest Marrow & £250 worth of B&Q vouchers

Why not see if you can beat 49cm next year?

The winner of our Biggest Marrow category grew his prize-winning marrow especially for Kingswood Parks In Bloom.

After reading about the competition in the magazine, David Moor, of Rivelin Park, decided to start growing a marrow and see how it got on. Green fingered David managed to grow a marrow which measured 49cm. He also grows lots of other fruit and vegetables in his garden and greenhouse.

He said: "My girlfriend suggested entering the competition for the Best Garden category. She thought it would be a good idea, as the garden is a bit different and I grow a lot of different vegetables. I've got sweetcorn, new potatoes, leeks and now marrows too. In fact, the marrow I have now has outgrown the one I entered into the competition.

"I like growing my own vegetables because I think they are much nicer and fresher from your own garden, everything tastes better homegrown, but obviously you need quite a lot of space to do it and I have a separate allotment for that."

David will receive £250 of B&Q vouchers to spend on his choice of gardening supplies.

 

Highly Commended & £50 worth of B&Q vouchers

Wendy Normington and Mike Coulsey's garden in Knightley Way was 'Highly Commended' in our Best Garden competition.

This garden was one of the most creative our team visited and a lovely outdoor space, as such the judges struggled to see what could be done there in terms of a garden makeover as it seemed very much complete.

However, we felt that this entry deserved a special mention and a prize for the creativity and hard work that has gone into it.

The garden had a bamboo beach hut and was very well co-ordinated in terms of the flowers that Wendy had chosen. There is only a very small space down the side of the house which Wendy still has plans for.

Wendy said: "I spend a lot of time in the garden, in summer I'm out there nearly every day. We've created a garden that's quite versatile and on a night when all the fairy lights are on its a really nice space for a party. If I had any tips for people, it would be to create a theme to show that you really enjoy your garden and that you've thought through everything that's there, for example ours has a very beach-themed feel."

For the special Highly Commended accolade, Wendy and Mike will receive a £50 B&Q voucher.