ISLAND GARDENS ARE BLOOMING MARVELLOUS!

The winners of the Wight in Bloom Awards 2007 are celebrating, tonight. Wight in Bloom Chair Peggy Jarman, IW Council Chairman Cllr Roger Mazillius and Kerry Jackson, from the competition’s sponsor Wightlink, joined entrants at a special awards ceremony at Northwood House in Cowes, on Sunday. There were 120 entries in the 2007 competition, up from 80 in 2006. Meanwhile, the IW Council's million blooms were mentioned. They have been brightening up public areas across the Isle of Wight and were shown to the awards ceremony audience, as part of a slide show. Glass trophies, engraved by Andy Phillips of Hampshire’s “Just in Glass”, were presented to a number of green fingered greats and Roger Frampton of Cowes received the special award - the Lesley Kenrick Cup.

Alan and Suzanne Whitewood attended the event, for the IW Beacon. She reports:

Peggy, in her welcome, thanked Nick Webb, Garden Isle Project Officer and all the gardeners across the Island. Cllr Roger Mazillius made comment on how everything was lush this year, in comparison with 2006. He thanked Wightlink for their continued sponsorship, the judges and all the steering groups in the towns and villages.

Schools had entered the competition and each school was to be given a packet of cornfield seeds. Some schools grew vegetables as well as flowers and planters had been sold on to parents, to provide funds for further gardening schemes.

RESULTS (Winner / Runner Up):
Best Front Garden over 3m
Mr. Wally Parsons, Sandcove Rise, Seaview / R. Willis, Northwood.

Best Small Garden under 3m
Mrs. P. Gilmore, Riverview Park, Newport/Mrs.L. Ryan,Sandown.

Best Cottage Garden
Diane Riddell, Greenway, Binstead/Cynthia Grace, Ryde.

Best Large Public House/Hotel/Guest House/Restaurant
Rylstone Tea Gardens, Shanklin/Caulkheads,Sandown.

Best Small Public House/Hotel/Guest House/Restaurant
The White House Hotel, Sandown/Castle Inn,Ryde.

Best Senior Citizen Complex
Columbus House, Shanklin/Elizabeth Court, Bembridge.

Best Initiative Involving Young People
Whippingham Primary School/Northwood Primary School.

Best Community Project
Ferry Road, East Cowes/Sunset Bungalows, Colwell Bay.

Best Business Frontage
W.W. Woodford Butchers, Bembridge/Salterns HP, Seaview.

Best “Special Feature” Garden
Afton Park, Freshwater/High Salterns, Seaview.