The 2015 Wight in Bloom Awards presentation took place yesterday evening at The Botanic Gardens in Ventnor with the winners of the Red Funnel sponsored competition announced by Alan Titchmarsh.
The celebrity gardener and TV presenter was revealed as the patron of the horticultural event at a floating garden launch held on board Red Funnel's Red Eagle vehicle ferry in May.
The Wight in Bloom competition is open to all Island residents and organisations and aims to encourage local communities to work together to plant, prune and dress local gardens and communal spaces.
The group of green-fingered Islanders gathered at a red carpet style awards ceremony to find out how their garden displays had fared. The judges, made up of volunteers from Island horticultural businesses and Peggy Jarman, honorary president of Wight in Bloom, visited more than 100 gardens earlier this summer to create a shortlist for each of the nine awards.
In recognition of the skill and pride displayed in their gardens and neighbourhoods, each winner was presented with gardening vouchers and tools. The prestigious overall winner prize and glass trophy was awarded to Aspire, Trinity Building, Ryde.
Alan Titchmarsh MBE, VMH (Victorian 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."
The competition had been a feature in the Isle of Wight calendar for many years but its future looked in doubt in 2014 due to a lack of sponsorship. Red Funnel rescued the competition to ensure the Island kept hold of this horticultural highlight and has now revealed it will continue its sponsorship, along with Visit Isle of Wight, into 2016.
Kevin George, Chief Executive of Red Funnel, said: "Everyone who enters Wight in Bloom brings such vibrancy and colour to our Island and to the visitor experience. Many congratulations to all the winners and runners-up, and thank you to everyone who entered, you have really raised the bar for next year."
Winners of Wight in Bloom 2015 were:
Best Small Front Garden:
1st place - David Mansfield, Binstead
2nd place - Carol Pryke, Binstead
Highly Commended - Pamela Toms, Northwood
Best Large Front Garden:
1st place - Hilary Wellsted, Bembridge
2nd place - Mr and Mrs Denness, Sandown
Highly Commended - Mrs J Hinton, Niton
Best Public House Garden:
1st place - The Buddle Inn, Niton
2nd place - The Dairyman's Daughter, Arreton
Highly Commended - Vernon Cottage Tearoom, Tavern and Restaurant
Best Accommodation Garden:
1st place - The Havelock
2nd place - Bembridge Coast Hotel
Highly Commended - Hatherleigh Guest House
Best Senior Citizen Complex/Nursing Home/Care Home Garden
1st place - Chemotherapy Garden, NHS Trust, St Mary's Hospital
2nd place - Knights Court, Ventnor
Highly Commended - The Briars, Sandown
Best Young People's Initiative
1st place - Bembridge C of E Primary
2nd place - The Children's House Montessori
Highly Commended - Northwood Primary School
Best Community Floral Project
1st place - Aspire, Trinity Building, Ryde
2nd place - East Cowes Floating Bridge and Carosal - Care in the Garden, Wooton
Highly Commended - War Memorial Gardens Bembridge - Bembridge Weeders
Best Tourist Attraction Garden (large)
1st place - Mottistone Gardens - National Trust
Joint 2nd place - Osborne House, English Hertiage and Ventnor Botanic Gardens
Best Tourist Attraction Garden (small)
1st place - Rylstone Crazy Gold & Tea Gardens
2nd place - The Old Smithy, Godshill
Highly Commended - Model Village, Godshill
Overall Island Winner
Aspire, Trinity Building, Ryde
If you would like to discuss how Carswell Gould could help, our team of experts are keen to chat. Fill in your details below and we'll be in touch shortly.
