Eleven gardens and three allotments entered this year’s Melplash Agricultural Society’s Gardens & Allotment Competition. The competition was judged over two days by Ms Alison Waterman and Mr Richard Middleton (2023 overall and medium garden winners) and Mrs Gillian Livingston (2023 large Garden Winner). They were accompanied by the Melplash Agricultural Society President Mr Martin Cox and his wife Vanessa, Clifford Pitcher, Society Chairman, Philip Hardwill and Society Vice Chairman, Simon Wakely.
“Vanessa and I were both extremely impressed with the high quality and standards of the entries and certainly don’t envy the task of the judges! They are a credit to everyone who has taken part” said President, Martin Cox.
The competition is kindly sponsored by William James & Co based in Bridport who are donating garden gift vouchers and Chedington Compost who are giving bags of compost to the prize winners. The cups will be awarded at the Melplash Show on Thursday 22 August.
2024 Results
Allotments
1st place and winner of the Groves Nursery Trophy – Mr Ronald Gow and Ms Julie Lambden, West Allington Allotments, Bridport
2nd The Living Tree group, St Cecilias Gardens, Bridport
3rd Mr and Mrs David and Susan Greenwood, East Street Allotments, Beaminster.
Small Gardens
1st place and winner of the Valerie Bishop Memorial Trophy – Mr Ronald Gow and Ms Julie Lambden, Bridport
2nd Mr and Mrs Ian and Anne Bark, Bridport
3rd Mr Les Loveridge, Lyme Regis
Medium Gardens
1st place and winner of the Pitcher Trophy – Rev Carole & Dr Barry Peters King, Fishpond Bottom
2nd Mr and Mrs Peter and Barbara Lacey, Lyme Regis
3rd Mrs Christine Corson, Beaminster
Large Gardens
1st place and winner of The Fowler Rose Bowl – Mr and Mrs John and Heather Coley, Ryall
2nd Mr and Mrs Andrew and Alison Stevens, Morecombelake
3rd Mrs Shirley Samways, Beaminster
Special Award for Best Environmental and Wildlife practice- The George Payne Memorial Trophy awarded to Ms Helen Mandy, Beaminster
For 2024, we have introduced a new special award for the most unusual or themed garden that falls outside the categories of Large, Medium, Small, Allotment and Environmental award guidelines. This year we are delighted to award this to The Living Tree group allotment, St Cecilias Gardens, Bridport. The judges commented ‘A great community space for the use of carers and people recovering’.
Overall winner of the competition and presented with The Alfie Parker and Jimmy Watts Perpetual memorial cup presented by A J C Palmer, Esq and C W R Palmer, Esq. is Rev Carole & Dr Barry Peters King, Fishpond Bottom.
The garden is definitely a labour of love for both Carole and Barry. They started work on their garden in 2019. At that time it was a building site and bramble patch following their two year project refurbishing their house. Carole looks after the spectacular flower beds, except the sweet peas, and Barry the growing of the vegetable: Broad beans are particular favourites at this time of year, and Brussel sprouts and calabrese in the winter. Runner beans are grown, frozen and used for roasts, and Barry has just started growing heritage peas! Carole loves her roses which she grows alongside salvias for their scent. Unlike Barry who grows his vegetables from seed, Carole tends to buy in plants, trawling the web for special deals. She also takes the advice she was given many years ago. ‘buy a plant from the garden centre every month that is in flower and you will then have flowers all the year around.’ What good advice! She also looks for longevity and mostly buys long lasting perennials that not only look good but are also good for the environment.
“We are absolutely delighted to be the winner of the medium category and to be announced as the overall winner is simply fantastic! Our garden is one of seven gardens in Fishpond Bottom open to the public on Saturday 29 June 11am – 5pm and Sunday 30 June 12 noon – 4pm, raising funds for the Church, everyone is very welcome” said Dr Barry Peters King.
