THERE were some surprises in store for some of Crediton’s best gardeners when the prizes for Crediton Town Council’s Floral Crediton competition were presented.

This was at a social evening held in the Council Chamber at Market Street council offices when the Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Frank Letch, presented the awards with his grand-daughter, Erin Zorlu (5).

Cllr Letch said that he and fellow judge, Bert Jewell, had enjoyed visiting all the gardens and thanked all those who took part in the annual competition.

He joked about how many of the people they had visited had said that they either wished they had visited their garden two weeks before or would have been visiting in two weeks time to see the plants at their best.

He described Bert as a “mind of information” about the types of plants they saw in people’s gardens.

Mr and Mrs King received two trophies during the evening, for being winners of the Family Garden category and also the Mayor’s Favourite garden.

The Mayor’s Favourite garden trophy was given by Ann Hughes in memory of her late husband, Mike.

RESULTS

Small formal garden – 1 Mr and Mrs Stevens, 3 Westernlea; 2 Mr and Mrs Boyle, Wescott, Fordton; 3 Ms Susan Daly, 12 Courtis Gardens, Highly Commended - Mrs Carol Bromell, 22 Town Park.

Large formal garden – 1 Mr and Mrs Crang, Silverdale, Threshers; 2 Mr and Mrs Cobb, Fourwinds, Barnfield.

Large managed natural garden – Mr and Mrs Bedford, Courtlans, Old Tiverton Road, 2 Mr Peter and Mrs Hamilton, 5 Union Terrace; 3 Mr Josepth Lockwood, The Old Bishops Palace.

Family garden – 1 Mr and Mrs King, 22 Old Tiverton Road, 2 Miss Michelle Stevens and Miss Gillian Stone, 32 Westernlea, 3 Mrs Margaret Tucker and Mr Derek Shapland, 11 Victoria Crescent.

Patio or hanging baskets and other outdoor planted containers – 1 Mr Edward Staite, Karenside, Old Tiverton Road; 2 Ms Brenda Hannaford, Crofters Cottage, High Street; 3 Mr M Fry, 46 Butt Parks; Highly Commended Ms Mandy Manning, 62 Queen Elizabeth Drive.

Cultivation of Alpine and Unusual Plants – 1 Mrs Ann Cann, 10 Golden Joy, 2 Mr David Cann, 12 Church Street.

Commercial – 1 The Crediton Inn, 2 Hillbrow Care Home, 3 The Crown of Crediton, Highly Commended – The Red Deer, Commended – ATS Crediton and Sandford Orchards.