Isle of Wight Steam Railway was the setting for the Island’s annual celebration of horticulture on Friday (18 July), when the winners were announced for Wight in Bloom.

The competition, organised by Visit Isle of Wight, saw a large number of entries across a range of categories, ranging from Best Small Front Garden to Best Large Tourist Attraction Garden.

Hosted by CEO of regional tourism body Tourism South East Fran Downton and Visit Isle of Wight MD Will Myles, the awards were the culmination of months of hard work in the garden from green-fingered Islanders.

The competition was supported by Island Line, and the theme of this year’s competition was Railway 200, a national celebration of the 200^th anniversary of the modern railway, with many entries reflecting the theme in their gardens.

All the finalists were presented with certificates made from terracotta roof tiles, each individually designed and painted by local artist ByMrsM and sponsored by Southern Vectis, while the winners were also presented with a slice of track from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Awards were presented by Simon Moye from Southern Vectis and Emma Brown from South Western Railway, operators of Island Line.

Ahead of the ceremony, guests were treated to a Ploughman’s Lunch at the Events Barn at Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

Alan Titchmarsh, Patron of Wight in Bloom, was unable to attend the ceremony, but did send a video congratulating everyone on their work.

The students at St George’s School were named winners of the Best Young People Initiative. Kat Montagu, a teacher at St George’s said that the garden is now an important part of the school:

“It’s a cross-curricular subject, we’ve incorporated maths, literacy, life-skills, everything. The kids have absolutely loved it. It’s changed an area that was quite dull and not used into an area that is used really frequently now.

“It was great meeting the judges, it was great getting the kids involved, we planned lessons around what the criteria was, we learned all about British railway as well and then coming today, we had a lovely afternoon tea, the girls and I have loved it!”

Taking home the award for Best Climate Resilient Garden and the Patrons Award, winner Rosalind Smith – known to her friends as Anthea – said her daughter entered her into Wight in Bloom without telling her, said she was overwhelmed to win the awards, stressing the importance of her garden:

“I love my garden, it’s all trees and peace – you can sit and be taken in by it all”, adding that it did also make her feel that she could do with a couple of days off from gardening!

Ellen Penstone-Smith, joint head gardener at Farringford collected the award for Best Small Tourist Attraction Garden for the second year in a row. Ellen said:

“I’m really keen on supporting Isle of Wight horticulture and we’ve got some amazing gardens on the Isle of Wight and it’s good to promote and to give those gardens a little bit a value, it’s a nice competition to enter.”

The overall winner and recipient of the Peggy Jarman trophy, named for Peggy who was an ardent supporter of Wight In Bloom and presented by her son Terry, was Nicola Fradgley, who also took the prize for Best Edible Garden. Judges said that ‘the design and layout is excellent, with a wide range of vegetables and fruit tress which were well advanced with produce ready to pick and eat. A lot of thought and hard work has gone into recycling. Rainwater is collected to feed all the plants and all the materials used at this plot had been recycled and salvaged from unwanted materials’

Nicola encouraged people to enter Wight in Bloom next year:

“Just give it a go, it’s rewarding, it’s a lovely event, it’s nice to be part of and it’s a nice pat on the back!”

Will Myles, MD at Visit Isle of Wight said:

“Wight in Bloom is made possible with support from the Island’s Wight BID. As well as promoting the Island to bring us our visitors, we do lots of on Island activities many people are not aware of. It is important we all have your support to secure funding for Wight in Bloom.”

Fran Downton, Chief Executive, Tourism South East, “It was my privilege to be part of such a fantastic day, amongst such talented people. I know the Island will be immensely proud of such worthy creative winners”.

ENDS

Online at https://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/explore/wight-in-bloom

Images: (WeTransfer link lasts 12 months): https://we.tl/t-NBXGX8nD9l

ByMrsM: https://bymrsm.com/

Finalist below:

Best Small Front Garden

Runner-up: Keith Baldock, Nettlestone

Winner: Susan Martin, Newport

Best Large Front Garden

Runner-up: Colin & Hilary Bailey, Newchurch

Winner:  Paul & Jane Cross, Shanklin

Best Small Tourist Attraction Garden

Runner-up: Model Village Godshill

Winner: Farringford

Best Large Tourist Attraction Garden

Runner-up: Robin Hill

Winner: The Princess Beatrice Garden at Carisbrooke Castle

Best Commercial Garden

Runner-up: The Clifton Hotel, Shanklin

Winner: One Holyrood Hotel & Café

Best Pride of Place Floral Project

Highly Commended: Bembridge Parish Council for Bembridge War Memorial

Runner-up: St James Square, Newport

Winner: Havenstreet Community Association

Best Young People Initiative

Runner-up: Broadlea Primary School, Sandown

Winner: St George’s School, Newport

Best Climate Resilient Garden

Runner-up: Rylstone Tea Gardens and Crazy Golf

Winner: Rosalind Smith, Fishbourne

Best Edible Garden

Runner-up: Havenstreet Community Association

Winner: Nicola Fradgley, Niton

Best Container Garden

Runner-up: Will Thurbin, Niton

Winner: Aly and Gary Inman

Best Care Giving Complex Garden

Runner-up: Ryde Village

Winner: Bucklers View Housing Care, Cowes

Patrons Award:

Rosalind Smith, Fishbourne

The Peggy Jarman Trophy:

Nicola Fradgley, Niton