Summer garden competition - prize winners!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered our summer garden competition! We loved seeing so many beautiful gardens. The judging wasn’t easy, but we’re pleased to announce the four prize winners...

• Winner: Debbie and Ian Redfern – win a £100 voucher
• 2nd place: Margaret Wilkinson – wins a £50 voucher
• 3rd place: Mr and Mrs Gilbert – win a £25 voucher
• Community garden: Lynne, Sue and the New Street Community Garden – wins a £50 Diamond Garden Centre voucher – kindly donated by Matlock Garden Centre

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Debbie and Ian's garden

Debbie and Ian's garden is a true labour of love. They've transformed it from a total blank canvas into a beautiful, special place.

Debbie told us about the work they've done, and what they love most about it.

"When we moved in five years ago there wasn't a single plant in our back garden and no borders, just a lawn. We've put a lot of loving care and many hours work into making it our special place. The wildlife here is fantastic and we often sit in our garden arbour and see the squirrel family run along the garden wall to the bird feeder. The birds are tame now and are so used to seeing us that they hop on the bird feeder when we're having a coffee outside – we can almost touch them!

"I'd say our favourite part of the garden is sitting in the arbour looking through the cut-out window, smelling the beautiful roses and lavender, and watching the flowers and plants changing with the seasons.

"I've loved gardening for as long as I can remember. My mum and dad spent a lot of time in their garden when I was little and my favourite past time was making perfume from rose petals!

"A garden is your place of tranquillity, a place to use your imagination and be creative but most of all a place to love and call your own."

What the judges said about Debbie and Ian’s gorgeous garden:

"It's obvious that a lot of love and time has gone into creating your tranquil garden.

"The variety of plants, colours and textures work perfectly together. And there’s so much to look at with the mix of pots, baskets, raised beds and borders. And the ornaments throughout (especially the Peter Rabbit characters) are wonderful.

"It’s all immaculate – the lawn, the beds and the quality of the plants.

"The summer house (not shed!) and arbour look lovely places to sit and relax. And it’s great to see the bird feeder too."

Margaret's garden

Margaret has created a beautiful garden that requires minimal upkeep, but gives maximum enjoyment!

Margaret told us more about the work that has gone into the garden and about the many different plants.

"The hard work in my garden was done well over 10 years ago when I first moved in. I planned ahead for a time when I might not be able to do much in the garden, but would still want to enjoy it.

"The design came first. I tried to make a small space into a place to be explored and enjoyed. The neighbour's tall hedge and trees behind provided the backdrop but also determined the limited amount of available light.

"I had the gravel paths laid out, along with a rose arbor with a seat in the shade, to make the most of the view of Chatsworth's hunting tower.

"I knew there would be more light in the early spring before the trees came into leaf, so I filled the garden with spring bulbs and hellebores. I love to see them come into flower. There's interest in the garden from January onwards.

"Then I added a trellis to break the solid wall of the tall hedge. It has a clematis growing which loves it!

"There are three main shrubs, one in each bed, the magnolia stellata, which is leggy, reaching for the light, the cotinus which would rapidly takeover a third of the garden without a fairly forceful annual prune. There was also a spiraea which came to an end of its life.

"In the sunniest bed there are now peonies, roses and low growing spring and summer plants, azalea, geraniums and aquilegia.

"In the bed at the back there is the magnolia, along with a new spiraea.

"The third bed is dominated by the monster cotinus but also a beautiful white chaenomeles which can be seen in the spring, and a pale photinia which adds lightness to the bed. On the fence there's a hydrangea petiolaris.

""Underneath most of the shrubs, in each bed, is low growing ground cover plants to limit weeds (and weeding)!

"I've had three gardens in my lifetime and have loved looking after each of them. I've learnt that if we choose carefully we can make a beautiful small garden that is manageable (although maybe without cotinus!)."

What the judges said about Margaret’s lovely garden:

"Wow. Such a lot of thought and planning has gone in this garden. We really liked the pathways and different areas you’ve created. It’s got a secret garden feel, definitely a place to be explored and enjoyed!

"And there’s so much to look at. So many different types of plants, with such a variety of colours and textures. The mirrors throughout are wonderful. And the different seating areas look lovely places to relax and enjoy all your hard work!

"All the plants are in great condition and the pathways are immaculate!"

Mr and Mrs Gilbert's garden

Mr and Mrs Gilbert have enjoyed getting their garden just how they want it.

"We're very proud of our garden. We've spent hours getting it just how we want it.

"We've put up a new shed, installed decking and regrouted all the slabs. We've made two separate seating areas where we can relax and enjoy it in the sunshine."

What the judges said about the Gilbert's garden:

"Your garden is lovely. We can see why you're proud of it – it’s obvious that a lot of hard work has gone into it.

"We especially liked just how much colour there is in the mix of baskets, pots, and planters.

"The decked seating area looks a great place to relax. And the lights are really pretty, especially around the hanging swing seat – a lovely finishing touch."

Lynne, Sue and the New Street Community Garden

Lynne and Sue have been looking after the New Street Community Garden for over seven years.

Over the years, they've transformed an overgrown patch of land off New Street in Bakewell, which is overlooked by our scheme of one and two bedroom flats.

It started in 2017 when Lynne moved in and brought plants from her old garden and installed a beautiful circular garden seat that her family had given her. Soon, others including Sue, got involved and have continued to nurture the garden. And with support from PDRHA and Peak District National Park they've bought a greenhouse, created a vegetable patch and even set up an insect hotel!

Lynne said: "We're so pleased to have won this prize, we're already planning our trip to the garden centre and have our shopping list ready!"

What the judges said about the New Street Community Garden:

"We're delighted to see that Lynne and Sue are still putting so much effort into the garden!

"The flowers look beautiful. And the sustainable features they've created, such as the insect hotel are a great addition."