PILNING AND SEVERN BEACH BEST FRONT GARDENS COMPETITION:

Annually, the Pilning and Severn Beach Parish Council provides awards for both Pilning and Severn Beach, to the gardens judged to have the best frontage. The awards cover the whole Parish and gardens are judged by the Pilning Flower Show Committee, with presentations made to the winners at the Flower Show on the Saturday of the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The purpose of the competition is to promote and encourage the upkeep and appearance of the gardens within the Parish.

Only parts of gardens visible from a road or public footpath will be judged. Judging will take place in the last two weeks of July. Size of garden should not be a consideration. Best overall garden will be determined by considering the criteria and detail provided below. Gardens do not necessarily need to address all of the criteria.

Criteria Detail

Quality/maintenance of plants/lawns Health and vigour of plants; absence of pests and diseases; no/few weeds present; correct

pruning and support of plants; deadheading, etc.

Diversity of plants/All year round interest Range of plants that complement each other and that may provide interest and colour

throughout the year.

Quality of design/use of space Well planned design relative to space. Include appropriate use of hard landscape.

Good use of colour/texture/form Does the garden make an impact in a pleasing way?

Sustainability and environment Use of mulches, drought resistant planting, approach to pest and disease management, use of

natural materials, etc.

Additional features/overall impression Has anything innovative been done to enhance the overall impression given?

General tidiness Absence of litter, waste and other items detracting from the appearance.

For further guidance on the competition please contact Flower Show organisers. Or, to get gardening tips too, please go along to the Pilning & Severn Beach Gardeners’ Club meetings held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm at the Mafeking Hall, Pilning.

Winners of best garden would not be able to win again for the next five years, but can be awarded ‘highly commended’. Each year, as well as the winners, the Flower Show will publish for the show, a list of the addresses of ‘highly commended’ gardens to allow local people to be aware of and to appreciate these gardens too. This will be done by early August to allow the gardens to be seen at their best.