LOCAL couple Trevor and Jeanette Jones have been named as the overall winners of this year’s Melksham in Bloom with their eco-friendly and sustainable garden.
The couple, who have lived on Church Walk for two and a half years, came out on top in four of this year’s categories as well as ‘Best Overall Garden’.
Talking to Melksham News, Trevor and Jeanette said, “This is the icing on the cake after a lot of hard work, lots of planning, lots of stress and many, many hours! When we moved in we started with a complete blank canvas. Last year was the first year that we entered the competition – but this year, everything is a lot more mature.
“It is a sustainable garden, which is one of the reasons that the judges liked it. It doesn’t all go in the green bin in October; everything that is planted in the ground is perennial, which means it will come back year after year.
“It is important to us that we created something that is sustainable, the joy of gardening for us is not just enjoying the plants in summer, but watching it die back in the autumn, go dormant through the winter and then start again in the spring.
“There is nothing out there that slugs and snails like, so we never have to use slug bait or pellets, so it is better for local wildlife. We like the wildlife, we feed the birds, have bee hotels – there is nothing out there that will damage the local biodiversity. We like our garden to be eco-friendly. We’re not on a crusade, but if everyone did their bit, one little bit to help the wildlife, it could make a big difference.”
The winners of Melksham in Bloom 2018 are: Best Overall Garden, Trevor and Jeanette Jones. Large Front Garden, Bruce Petty. Small Front Garden, Mr and Mrs Sandford. Large Rear Garden, Bruce Petty. Small Rear Garden, joint winners, David Walker with Liz and Mark Elford. Best single tub/container, Trevor and Jeanette Jones. Best single hanging basket, Trevor and Jeanette Jones. Best Water Feature, David Walker. Best Floral Frontage, Trevor and Jeanette Jones. Best Innovative Design, Trevor and Jeanette Jones. Wildlife Friendly Garden, Valerie and Robert Dickenson.
Best Horticultural Display (School), Shaw School. Best Wildlife Friendly Garden (School), Shaw School. Best Environmentally Friendly Garden (School), Shaw School.
Best Decorated Site (Residential Housing for over 60s), Wharf Court. Best Hanging Basket/ Trough/Planter (Residential Housing for over 60s), Wharf Court. Best Street, Church Walk. Best Allotment, Stu Wakely (Plot 7 Addison Road).
The winners and runners-up will be presented with their cups, prizes and certificates at the Gardeners’ Society Show in September. To view the list of results, including runners up, visit www.melkshamtown. co.uk/south-west-in-bloom
