The shy gardeners of Devizes and Roundway will be urged to take part in an open garden scheme to raise money for charity and let the public appreciate their hard work.

Zena Robson, chairman of the Devizes and Roundway in Bloom committee, suggested the move at the competition’s presentation evening at the town hall last Thursday. She and her fellow committee members felt it was a shame that some of the best gardens in the area were not entered in the contest.

She said: “We want to encourage those gardeners who are too shy to enter to take part in this competition. While we went around judging this year’s entries we saw some wonderful displays and wondered why they weren’t entered.

“We want to open these gardens up and let people come and see them, talk to the gardeners and become friends. It won’t matter how big or small the garden is.”

Mrs Robson suggested that a small fee could be charged, which would go towards the Mayor’s Appeal. Visitors would then vote for their favourite gardens and this would replace the front and back gardens sections of the Devizes and Roundway in Bloom competition.

Town mayor Kelvin Nash thanked all those who had helped Devizes and Roundway to its gold medal win in the South West in Bloom competition. Nine local groups won It’s Your Neighbourhood awards, with the Drews Pond Wood Group once again gaining an ‘outstanding’ award.

The re-opening of Hillworth Park after a £1.8m refurbishment also impressed the judges and led to the gold award.

The audience in the Assembly Room at the town hall watched a powerpoint presentation of photos of the floral decorations in town.

Coun Nash and Anthony Brown, president of the Devizes Chamber of Commerce, presented the awards while judges Tony Batchelor and Zena Robson spoke of the special judges prizes awarded to Wadworth & Co and Mike Wood Tyres for the excellence of their displays in areas of the town that would otherwise have been without decoration.

The winners

  • Front garden display (Mary Day memorial rose bowl): 1. Mrs S Wright, Mews Cottage; 2. Mrs P Bruce, 7 Old Farm House; 3. Ms S Smith, Roundway Park.
  • Display in a single container (Devizes & District Gardening Club): 1. Mrs J Lake, Bridewell Street; 2. Mr S Bowes, Crammer Court; 3. Mrs E Clarke, Chandler Close.
  • Display in an individual hanging basket (Vera Bush memorial rose bowl): 1. Mr S Bowes, Crammer Court; 2. Mr & Mrs Davis, Eastleigh Road; 3. Mr & Mrs Pletts, Nursteed Road.
  • Rear garden display (Noel Woolrych Millennium Cup): 1. Mr & Mrs J Pletts, Nursteed Road; 2. Ms P Blanshard, Westminster Close; 3. Mr & Mrs T Payne, Old School House.
  • Best allotment (Paula Winchcombe Cup): 1. J Fruen, Plot 8S; 2. Mrs E Theobold, Plot 15N; Ms C Parfitt, Plot 29.
  • Hotel/public houses (Devizes Carnival Committee Shield): 1. Black Swan Hotel; 2. Southgate Inn; 3. Bear Hotel.
  • Hotel/public house beer garden (Sue Evans Salver): 1. Bear Hotel; 2. The Dolphin; 3= Black Swan & Castle Hotel.
  • Floral frontage other than retail (Cross Manufacturing Company silver trophy): 1. Estcourt House Veterinary Surgeons; 2. Crown Centre; 3. Gazette & Herald.
  • Floral frontage - retail (Chamber of Commerce silver trophy): 1. Country Butchers; 2. Ma Cuisine; 3. Devizes Toys
  • Small business community (Julian Beinhorn Cup): 1. The Ginnel; 2. Old Swan Yard.
  • Hanging basket on a small business premises (John Leighton Trophy): 1. Joan Pressley Hats; 2. Paul Simon hairdressers; 3. H J Johnsons Ltd.
  • Churches and chapel grounds (Trustee Savings Bank silver trophy): 1. Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception; 2. St Peter’s Church; 3. Maryport Street Baptist Chapel.
  • Communal dwelling (Lions Club of Devizes Trophy): 1. Southfield House; 2. St Mary’s Gardens; 3. Crammer Court.
  • School/nursery grounds (Mayor’s Cup): 1. Noah’s Ark Nursery School; 2. Nursteed Community Primary School; 3. Sixpenny Nursery School.
  • Restaurant/tea room/eating establishment (Ray Parsons Cup): 1. Brogans; 2. Franco’s; 3. The Bistro.
  • Judges’ special award: 1. Wadworth & Co; 2. Mike Wood Tyres; The Chequers.
  •  Painting competition – Up to six years old: 1. Charlotte Betts; 2. Olivia Blake; 3. Aaron Oakley; Seven to 11 years old: 1. Aimee Cornish; 2. Eve Hislop; 3. Mia Hocquard; Under 12 years old: 1. Beth Parfitt; 2. Loki Cowden; 3. Erin Harrer; 12 to 16 years old: Adam Fisher; Over 16/adult: Thelma Edwards; Tom Smith.