Green-fingered Residents Honoured at Annual Award Event

Published by Tina for Spectrum Housing Group in Housing

Spectrum Signpost residents from across the South West have been given prizes at two award events in recognition of their exemplary gardening abilities.

The award ceremonies took place on the afternoon of Friday 31st August at both St. Sidwells Community Centre, Exeter and Friars Moor Court, Sturminster Newton. The ceremonies recognised the very best gardeners from both the Devon and South Wessex areas, and saw winners named for a number of different categories.

Earlier this year, Spectrum Signpost residents were invited to nominate their gardens for the annual awards event in eight different areas: small garden, large garden, communal garden, floral content/planting scheme, hanging baskets/containers, vegetable/fruit patch, young gardener (children 16 and under), and wildlife garden. In total, over 80 entries were received from residents across the two regions with entries coming from as far and wide as Exmouth, Plymouth, Torquay and Paignton, all the way to Bournemouth, Weymouth, Gillingham and Yeovil.

"The gardening competition has become a great annual event for us here at Spectrum Signpost," said Lisa Elford, Resident Involvement Officer for the Association. "This type of event enables residents to get involved with us and the competition provides a focus for residents each year. The competition really makes a difference to all who live on our schemes and, most importantly, it enables residents to come together to share ideas."

With gold, silver and bronze winners named for eight categories across the two regions, there was a great deal of healthy competition amongst residents – but one couple from Plymouth went away very happy following Friday's awards after winning Gold for four categories: keen gardeners Alan and Linda Wingate picked up the Gold award for the Large Garden, Floral Content, Vegetable/Fruit Patches and Wildlife Garden categories. Also receiving special recognition on the day were the Gold winners of the Young Gardener category for children under 16 years of age - Mia Caines from Child Okeford and brothers Chris and Michael Gale from Exeter.

Judging took place for the competition at the end of June, with a Resident Involvement Officer visiting each of the gardens to enable Spectrum Signpost residents - acting as judges - to reach their final decision.

"The quality of entries this year has been absolutely exceptional, making it very difficult to choose winners," said Liz Baker, Resident Involvement Officer for Spectrum Signpost."

"The South Wessex area competition was judged by resident involvement officers Helen Oram and Liz Baker alongside resident judges June Hales, Trixie and Malcolm Lye, and Mike Ruddy. The Devon+ area was judged by Devon+ Community Forum members Alex Wright, Jo Hall, Chris Gillies and Margaret Danks. We are grateful to all of these residents for giving up their time and helping us to find the very best gardens."

Medals were presented to all gold, silver and bronze winners at the two awards event, with Ian Keys, Board Member of Spectrum Housing Group, presenting the medals to winners in attendance at the Exeter ceremony. Resident judge Mike Ruddy presented the medals to South Wessex area winners. Photographs of the winners and their gardens will be featured in the next issue of Spectrum Signpost's residents’ newsletter, Your Voice.

The full list of Spectrum Signpost's Garden Awards competition for the South Wessex and Devon+ areas is as follows:

South Wessex area results

Small Garden
Gold -Mr & Mrs Davis, Shillingstone
Silver - Adrian Littlewood, Higher Ansty
Bronze - Mary Martin, Gillingham / Annette Chattaway, Gillingham

Vegetable/ Fruit Patch
Gold - Nigel & Gail Ward, Tarrant Rushton
Silver - John Parson, Stalbridge
Bronze - Michael Cox, Dorchester / Terry & Gill Godlonton, Milborne St Andrew

Communal Garden
Gold - Friars Moor Court, Sturminster Newton
Silver - Lavington House, Blandford
Bronze - Dellsmead, Tarrant Rushton

Large Garden
Gold - Trevor Middleton, Stalbridge
Silver - Terry & Gill Godlonton, Milborne St Andrew
Bronze - Mr & Mrs Leonard, Gillingham

Floral Content
Gold - Trevor Middleton, Stalbridge
Silver - Mr & Mrs Davis, Shillingstone
Bronze - Mrs Taylor, Stalbridge / James Rouche, Yeovil

Hanging Baskets / Containers
Gold - Jean Christopher, Fontmell Magna
Silver - Adrian Littlewood, Higher Ansty
Bronze - Trevor Middleton, Stalbridge

Wildlife Garden
Gold - June Hales, Blandford
Silver - John Parsons, Stalbridge
Bronze - Trevor Middleton, Stalbridge

Young Gardener (under 16)
Gold - Mia Caines, Child Okeford
Silver - Jordan Coltart, Shaftesbury
Bronze - Leon & Tre Sams, East Stour

Devon+ area results

Small Garden
Gold - Mrs Maria Stapleton, Exwick / Mr Shane Beard, Paignton
Silver - Mrs Sally Lynch, Paignton
Bronze - Mr Andy Luckraft, Budleigh Salterton / Mrs Emma Blackburn, Exeter

Large Garden
Gold - Mr Alan Wingate, Plymouth
Silver - Mrs Emma Blackburn, Exeter
Bronze - Mr & Mrs Clark, Plymouth

Commual Garden
Gold - Astor Court, Plymouth

Floral Content / Planting Scheme
Gold - Mr Alan Wingate, Plymouth
Silver - Mr Shane Beard, Torquay
Bronze - Mrs Maria Stapleton, Exwick

Hanging Baskets / Containers
Gold - Mrs Pamela Head, Plymouth
Silver - Mr & Mrs Lynch, Paignton / Mr & Mrs Wingate, Plymouth
Bronze - Mrs Marina Bell / Mrs Maria Stapleton

Vegetable / Fruit Patches
Gold - Mr Alan Wingate, Plymouth
Silver - Mr Andy Luckraft, Budleigh Salterton
Bronze - Mr & Mrs Clark, Plymouth / Mrs Emma Blackburn

Young Gardener (Under 16)
Gold - Chris & Michael Gale, Exeter

Wildlife Garden
Gold - Mr & Mrs Wingate, Plymouth
Silver - Mr & Mrs Clark, Plymouth