GARDENERS across the city have been celebrating their ‘blooming’ marvellous gardens as the annual Newport in Bloom competition announces its winners.

The community venture to encourage the people of Newport to develop gardens for pleasure, saw keen gardeners across the city produce show-stopping gardens in the hopes of coming first in a range of categories.

Participants had to submit their entries by June 20 which were then judged by a panel, before the final judging of the 12 categories on July 10.

Les Guy, 93, of Ridgeway Hill, Newport, came first in class one for his front garden.

Mr Guy was delighted at the win.

“What I like about my garden is that there are a lot of elderly people up here who are infirm and they knock on my door and ask if they can have a look at my garden,” he said.

“It is just a mass of colour and blossom – like a cottage garden. Most of it is from cuttings or seed.

“I like gardening. I am 93 years old but it keeps me fit.

“I have been entering the competition for 30 years now and have come third and fourth place, but this is the first time that I have come first.”

Meanwhile, Irene Windsor, of Summerhill House on Albert Avenue came first for class two – front garden mainly in tubs, pots and baskets.

Ms Windsor was also thrilled with the win, having entered the competition for the last four years.

“The stand-out feature is the apple trees,” she said.

“This is the first time I have won – it is fantastic.”

For class four-public houses and hotels, Val Blong of The Ship Inn, in Caerleon, came first for their garden.

Her sister, Jackie Moore, who manages The Old Barn Inn, Llanmartin, along with her partner Phil Moore, won the champions class for their efforts.

Mrs Moore said: “The Champions Class sees all the people who have won Newport in Bloom be put forward for the Champions Class award, so we are thrilled to have won.”

Stow Park Church came first for class five – churchyards and cemeteries and Kensington Court Day Centre, Oaklands Road, came first for class seven – residential homes, sheltered housing, day centres.

Ann Tucker, 69, of Hafod Cwrt, Stow Park Crescent, came first for both class eight – any wildlife garden, and class six – community or neighborhood joint effort, which saw nine flats create a magnificent garden over a ten-year period.

Ms Tucker said: “It is a very large garden with a woodland, top and middle garden.

“It was a joint effort between nine flats over ten years.

“We are all very pleased and thrilled to have won.”

The award for class nine – any individual allotment – went to Simon Matthews at Market Garden Allotments, while Rogerstone Community Council at the Welfare Grounds came first in class ten – any community council entry.

The award for class 11 – the most unusual and inventive recycled planted container – went to Dave Carpenter, of Summerhill House, Albert Avenue, for his ‘flower bed’ container, where he made an actual bed out of flowers, along with a ‘flower child.’ “I went to a charity shop and got a small child’s bed and made a white pillow out of some white flowers and the bedding out of some coloured flowers,” he said.

 

Runners up were:

Class one – Front garden: 2nd R.A. Dodd, Sudbury Walk 3rd Paul Gibbins of High Street Caerleon

Class two-front garden, mainly in tubs, pots and baskets 2nd Mrs J.K. Thomas , Kier Hardie Cresent 3rd Barbara Jenkins, Myrtle Cottage, Caerleon

Class three-commercial properties
No entries

Class four-public houses and hotels
2nd Rogerstone and Bassaleg Social Club - Brian Pugh
3rd The Rhiwderin Inn, Rhiwderin

Class five – churchyards and cemeteries
2nd Holy Trinity Church, Christchurch
3rd All Saints Church, Brynglas Road, Father William Ritchie

Class six – community or neighbourhood joint effort
2nd Maesglas Primary School and Stratford House Sheltered Housing Shakespeare Crescent, The Gaer
3rd Walter Martin, Welland Crescent, Bettws

Class eight – any wildlife garden
2nd Simon Matthews, St Mary’s Court
3rd St Margaret’s Church Marshfield, G.S. Hemming, Marysfield Close, Marshfield,

Class nine – any individual allotment
2nd Kevin O’Conner, Market Gardens Allotments
3rd Hilary Phillips, Radnor Road Allotments

Class 11 – the most unusual and inventive recycled planted container
2nd Jackie Sellwood, Swallow Way, Duffryn
3rd Les Guy, Ridgeway Hill