Congratulations to STAR garden winners
We were delighted to team up with Shropshire Towns and Rural Housing (STAR) to recognise gardeners who have brought colour and wildlife to their plots, patios and planters.
We partner with STAR Housing every year to host a gardening competition. This event celebrates the incredible efforts of STAR Housing customers who transform their gardens into stunning havens. The competition features four categories: Best Garden, Best Communal Garden, Best Container, and Best Wildlife and Produce, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes awarded in each category.
Our Commercial Development Manager Pete Evans was honoured to be part of a panel of judges visiting some of the housing group’s best cared for gardens. He was then invited to present winners with vouchers and a rose at a special ceremony at Shrewsbury Town Football Club.
Green-fingered Pete oversees the running of our commercial Marketplace which includes a well-stocked garden centre. He visited homes in Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth areas to choose winners in categories: Best Garden, Best Container, Best Wildlife and Produce and Best Communal Garden.
Winners presentation at Shrewsbury Football Club
Winners were invited to STAR’s Annual General Meeting at Shrewsbury Football Club, where they were presented with their prizes. Pete gifted each of the talented gardeners with a rose, kindly donated by David Austin Roses – as Derwen College is one of the company’s exclusive stockist partners.
Best Garden went to Christine and Roy Garrard whose garden was described by judges as “extremely well structured, varied, planted and pruned garden with some beautiful mature trees, a clear love and understanding of plants and how to encourage them to thrive. All beautifully compartmentalised and presented an absolute joy to visit.”
The award for Best Container went to Sylvena Wellings who has created an amazing array of tubs and planters of all kinds.
“I loved the use of the colourful swing bins. Sylvena had grown many of the plants herself.”
Best Wildlife & Produce award went to Gillian Gregory who has grown a myriad of vegetables which she enjoys sharing with the community.
“Gillian has made the very most of the small amount of protection she has using a small wall mounted plastic greenhouse. A very well stocked, fruitful corner of the world.”
The Best Communal Garden award went to Unicorn Road, in Oswestry, where the whole community had brought their own ideas in pots and other containers to this communal area to express themselves and join in.
“They have turned what could have been quite a bland area into a lovely space. Even clever, energy saving lighting had been installed. There were flowers, herbs, fruit trees and some ripening blueberries. Well done folks, a real tonic!” said judge Pete.
We are proud to be part of the community and to partner with local and national businesses to support both students and customers. Well done to all the nominees and winners.