Garden of the Year competition

The search is on to track down some of the best gardens around.

From postage-stamp plots dripping in colour, to something more sprawling and rural, all are eligible to enter our annual Garden of the Year Competition sponsored by the Shropshire Star in conjunction with Percy Thrower’s Gardening & Leisure of Shrewsbury.

Large or small, formal or informal, whatever their size and design all have a chance of scooping some great gardening prizes in this blooming great competition where variety is the key to success.

We’re not looking for something particularly grand or stately, or one manicured to perfection. It doesn’t have to be conventional or full of exotic plants. Simply a garden that’s packed with personality.

One that has the “feel good” factor, where the owner’s passion and talent for gardening really shines through. Since the competition began 24 years ago, we’ve unearthed some fantastic gardens of all shapes, sizes and styles. Our readers have wowed the judges in the past, and this year promises to be no exception.

Many gardeners modestly claim that their pride and joy is ‘nothing special’. Not nearly good enough to enter a competition. And that’s where they would be wrong. For, over the years, many have gone on to walk off with honours at their first attempt - even gone on to win national acclaim too!

So don’t under estimate your talent and achievement - and don’t think that because yours isn’t a certain kind of garden that it won’t be considered. We have no idea what gems the postbag will bring and our judges won’t be ruling anything out.

Following our closing date of Monday July 2, we’ll draw up a short list for preliminary judging on Tuesday and Wednesday July 17 and 18.

Garden hopping on this marathon judging session will be top local horticulturist, demonstrator and lecturer, Margaret Thrower, daughter of the late, great Percy Thrower together with Star gardening guru, Martin Ford. Together they will whittle the list down to six to contest the final.

Grand Final judging is set for Friday July 27 when eminent plantsman, broadcaster and author, Roy Lancaster joins Margaret and Martin to select the pick of the crop.

Roy’s been Chief Judge since launch, describing this as “the best competition of its kind in the country”. He’s also showered praise on our green fingered readers.

“Shropshire gardeners are a very special breed,” he said. “They’re innovative, adventurous and their cultivation skills are amongst the finest in the land.”

With summer just round the corner we look forward to receiving a bumper crop of unexpected treasures. So don’t be shy. If you’re proud and passionate about your garden, then share it with us!

WHAT’S WAITING TO BE WON

Apart from walking off with the coveted Garden of the Year crystal rose bowl, our category winners each walk off with £250 worth of vouchers to spend at Percy Thrower’s extensive gardening and leisure complex in Shrewsbury.

Runners up will bag £100 of vouchers with £50 worth being awarded to our third placed gardens. There’s vouchers too for our losing semi finalists who will all join the presentation ceremony at Percy Thrower’s later this summer.

Situated in Oteley Road, this ‘home of gardening’ is a mecca for gardeners old and new. With vast choice, keen prices and knowledgeable and helpful staff our winners are in for a field day.

HERE’S HOW TO ENTER

There are two categories of entry – gardens under and over one third of an acre. We will need three dated photographs of your garden together with the following information:

• Your full name, address and daytime telephone number.
• The Category of entry – Under or Over 1/3rd of an acre.
• If you’ve entered the competition before – mark your entry accordingly.

Send your entry to Garden of the Year Competition, Star Promotions, Shropshire Star, Ketley, Telford TF1 5PD.  Closing date for entry is Monday 2 July.

Rules: Employees of Shropshire Newspapers Ltd. Percy Thrower’s Gardening & Leisure, associate companies and their immediate families are ineligible to enter. Entry open to amateur gardeners within the circulation area of the Shropshire Star. Previous overall winners are not eligible to enter the same category for two years. No cash alternative of the prize is available. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into.