Our annual gardening competition is always a highlight in our calendars and this year the ‘In Bloom’ entries were better than ever before. The creativity, passion and care demonstrated by this year’s entries was wonderful.
The high standard made things very difficult for our team of judges, made up of Frances Hope, Head Gardener of Loftus Garden Village, Lynda Rawlings, member of the Charter board, and Mary Edwards, member of the Derwen board.
Eventually the entries were whittled down and 26 talented gardeners were invited to the ‘In Bloom’ awards event held at the Lysaght Institute in Newport. The award for Best Newcomer kicked off the event, with Mr Kenneth Lewis being awarded gold standard in the category. The judges were so impressed with his garden that he was also voted the overall winner of ‘In Bloom’, taking home the coveted Roy Morris Memorial Shield, he said, “I was a bit surprised and taken aback. I didn’t realise there was a shield as an overall winner. As a newcomer I didn’t know what to expect.”
Mr Lewis entered ‘In Bloom’ for the first time this year and has spent many months working hard in his garden,
“The garden was derelict when we moved in 18 months ago. We worked hard to get it like this and all the family helped us. We’re very proud to win.”
Article created: 25th September 2016
