Wiltshire residents celebrating their gardens this summer

Green-fingered tenants across Wiltshire have been showing off their gardening prowess in the Wiltshire Council Housing Garden Competition 2022.

The annual competition is open to all tenants who have communal or private gardens and balcony spaces within their flats, houses and sheltered schemes.

Voucher prizes were awarded to those with the best Private or Communal Garden, with an additional judge's prize on offer for the Best Vegetable Patch and Most Creative Use of Space.

The competition is aimed at encouraging tenants to participate in a healthy activity while also engaging with their neighbours to create attractive communal spaces for all to enjoy. Tenants submitted their photo entries to the council's Housing Resident Engagement team, with the judging visits taking place in July.

Winners of the awards were:

• 1^st Prize, Private Garden - Jemma Phillips, Spiders Island, Alderbury
• 2^nd Prize, Communal Garden - Viv Stinchcombe, Reindorp Lodge
• 3^rd Prize, Communal Garden - Denise Hill, Lanfear Close, Amesbury
• Judges' Prize, Vegetable Garden - Helen and Dave, St Andrews, Laverstock
• Judges' Prize, Creative use of Space - Chris Johnson, Parsons Green, Shrewton

Cllr Phil Alford, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: "The Housing Resident Engagement officers strive to help tenants to be empowered and to live full, healthy and enriched lives, so we are really pleased that so many of our tenants entered the gardening competition this year.

"Gardening is a great pastime, not only will the tenants have benefitted from getting increased physical exercise, fresh air and sunlight, but also from having a more enjoyable, attractive space to enjoy in the company of their neighbours.

"Those who have also used the space to grow their own vegetables will also have the added benefit of being able to consume their own fresh produce, which also help to save money on their grocery bills.

"As stated in our Business Plan, we want to have vibrant communities, and all entrants to this competition certainly showed this in their fantastic gardens.

"Congratulations to all of our winners and entrants, I hope that they enjoy getting use out of their gardens for the rest of the summer."

Helen and Dave, Winners of Best Vegetable Garden, said "We're really pleased to have won best vegetable garden, we recommend growing vegetables even if you haven't before! Give it a try!"

Anyone wishing to get more involved in the community, find volunteering opportunities or help the council improve the services that it offers can contact the Housing Resident Engagement team on 0300 456 0117 option 5 or email at Tenantparticipation@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).