Tenants of South Somerset Homes awarded for their beautiful gardens
(Chard, Crewkerne, Ilminster and surrounding villages)
29 November 2004

(from left to right) Sonja Jeffrey (Overall winner & 1st Prize Best Rear Garden), David Mansfield (Director of Housing) and June Payne (donated the cup).

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 and Children's Chance.

Ken Prescott 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.

The winners were as follows:

Best Front Garden
1st Prize – Brian and Margaret Bird, Ilminster
2nd Prize – Christine Rendell, Chard
3rd Prize – Ron Holt, Misterton

Best Back Garden
1st Prize – Sonja Jeffrey, Combe St. Nicholas
2nd Prize – Charlie and Mary Baggott, Merriott
3rd Prize – Ron Holt, Misterton

Best Feature Garden
1st Prize – Margaret Hobbs, Horton

Best Theme Garden
1st Prize – Alison Green, Chard
2nd Prize – Marion Thompson, Crewkerne
3rd Prize – Margaret Hobbs, Horton

Best Container
1st Prize – Phyllis Buller, Tatworth
2nd Prize – Ron Holt, Misterton
3rd Prize – Christine Sweet, Chard

Overall Winner was Sonja Jeffrey

(from left to right) Phyllis Buller (1st Prize Container Garden), Alison Green (1st Prize Best Theme Garden), Rodney Hoyle (Garden Photographer), Sonja Jeffrey (Overall winner & 1st Prize Best Rear Garden), David Mansfield (Director of Housing), June Payne (donated the cup), Shaun O’Reilly (South Somerset Homes Main Board Member), Margaret Hobbs (1st Prize Best Feature Garden and 3rd Prize Best Theme Garden), Ken Prescott (Judge), Margaret Bird (1st Prize Best Front Garden).

June Payne donated the cup in memory of her late husband (Gerald Payne) who was a keen gardener, and June presented the cup to Sonja Jeffrey (the overall winner). This is the first time this cup has been presented and it will be held by the winner for one year.

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."