Dale & Valley Homes' Garden competition takes root

Published by Frances Griss for Dale & Valley Homes in Housing and also in Communities, Environment

Gardeners on a County Durham housing estate are working hard to make sure their plot is on winning form.

The green-fingered growers are getting their gardens into tiptop condition for the first ever Watergate garden competition, being organised by Dale & Valley Homes.

John and Margo Fowler of Grasmere Grove have been building their secluded garden for almost 20 years.

Mr Fowler said: “We have tried to do it a bit more natural because we like the wildlife. I am going in more fro shrubs than bedding plants.

“We have four or five pairs of blackbirds nesting, blue tits, greenfinches and chaffinches, and we had a great spotted woodpecker, it was beautiful.”

Organiser Craig Sams said: “There are plenty of nominations in but we still have time for a few late entries, especially from young gardeners and new tenants.

“We have some good prizes on offer so it really is worth making the effort to enter.

“I am passionate that every person living on the Watergate estate can do their bit to make it a more attractive place to live. The competition is just a way of rewarding those who put in a lot of effort and encouraging others to do a bit more.”

Judging will take place on Wednesday, July 13. To enter contact Craig on 0800 0830 333 or 0300 2000 194 from a mobile.