Tenants of South Somerset Homes awarded for
their beautiful gardens
(Chard, Crewkerne, Ilminster and surrounding villages)
17 October 2005

South Somerset Homes recently awarded their tenants for keeping such beautiful colourful gardens. This is an annual event, which is open to all tenants of South Somerset Homes.

This year’s competition attracted over 100 entries in the following categories –

Best Front Garden, Best Back Garden, Best Container Garden, Best Theme Garden, Best Feature Garden, Best Vegetable Garden, Best Road/Scheme and Children’s Chance.

Jenny Cremer, owner of Chard Garden Centre was the judge and commented, “I thought that it was wonderful how much thought and energy had been put into all of the gardens entered. They all looked splendid and made choosing a winner very difficult.”

A presentation ceremony for all entrants and prize winners took place recently at St Gildas Extra Care sheltered housing scheme in Chard.

Left to right: Ron Parsons (Resident, Winner of Best Container Garden), Sonja Jeffery (Resident, Winner of Best Front/Rear Garden), Jenny Cremer (Judge), Margaret Mikanowicz (Resident, Overall Winner), Andrew Bendell (Head of Housing, SSH), Jordon McBride (Winner of the Children’s Chance), David Andrews (Housing Manager, SSH), Sarah Stradwick (Resident, Winner of Best Vegetable Garden), Margaret Hobbs (Resident, Winner of Best Theme Garden)

The winners are as follows:

Best Front/Rear Garden
1st Sonja Jeffery, Combe St Nicholas
1st Margaret Mikanowicz, Ilminster
3rd Brian & Margaret Bird, Ilminster

Best Container Garden
1st Ron Parsons, Combe St Nicholas
2nd John Gray, Chard
3rd Sonja Jeffery, Combe St Nicholas

Best Theme Garden
1st Margaret Hobbs, Horton
2nd Ron Holt, Misterton

Best Feature Garden
1st Geoffrey Beck, Ilminster
2nd Alan & Barbara Lacey, Horton

Best Vegetable Garden
1st Sarah Stradwick, Ilminster
2nd Margaret Hobbs, Horton
3rd Marion Thompson, Crewkerne

Best Road/Scheme Garden
1st Margaret Hobbs, Horton
2nd Muchelney House, Ilminster

Children's Chance
1st Connor & Jordon McBride, Ilminister

Overall Winner
Margaret Mikanowicz, Ilminster

Last year June Payne donated the cup in memory of her late husband Gerald Payne who was a keen gardener. This is the second time this cup has been presented and it will be held by the winner for one year.

Left to right: Jenny Cremer (Judge), Margaret Mikanowicz (Resident, Overall Winner), Andrew Bendell (Head of Housing, SSH), Jordon McBride (Winner of the Children’s Chance), David Andrews (Housing Manager, SSH)

David Andrews, Housing Manager at South Somerset Homes said, “Many of our tenants take great pride in their gardens and these awards aim to give them some recognition for their hard work in keeping their gardens so beautiful.”