Once again the judges have been out looking at the front gardens of Westminster Park. This is the 10th anniversary of the competition, which started in 2005. After producing a shortlist, the judges visit each one and mark them according to a set of criteria such as “wow” factor, variety and work put into it. There are prizes for both gardens and displays of hanging baskets and containers. They are judged on what can be seen from the road and no garden can win more than once in five years.

This year the garden winner was Terry and Val Hughes of Smithy Pathway and they kindly hosted the prize-giving ceremony in their equally lovely back garden (see photo of the winners on the website at www.wp-ra.org.uk). Other garden prizes went to Russell and Anita Carter from Vincent Drive and Brian and Sue Dickenson of Cottage Road.

The best display of hanging baskets was judged to be Richard and Jane Avory of St. Bridget’s Court with Betty McLoughlin of Boxmoor Close as runner up.

We also awarded a community prize to David Needham of Five Ashes Road for his hard work, on his own, in clearing the pathway that runs around the top of the estate parallel to Wrexham Road.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Judging this year took place in mid July and we are aware that this misses the lovely spring gardens that abound in March and April. With this in mind we are planning on a spring competition in 2015. Get planting those bulbs now!