Winners announced for Wight in Bloom 2017

Supported and managed for the past three years by Visit Isle of Wight (VIOW) together with event sponsor Red Funnel Ferries, Wight in Bloom is open to all Island residents and organisations with the aim to make the Island a brighter, greener place to live and visit.

The awards were presented by the celebrity gardener and TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh, MBE VMH DL, Patron of Wight in Bloom.

Judges visited Island gardens earlier this summer to rate the Island's gardening projects. Entries were shortlisted for one of 11 awards and judged by a team of volunteers that included Island horticultural businesses.

Winners in each category received certificates, gardening vouchers and tools, sponsored by local garden centres - Forest View and Honnor & Jeffrey - in recognition of the skill and pride they displayed in their gardens and neighbourhoods. Each category winner also received a goody bag with top-of-the-range products from Liz Earle.

In addition to the category winners, there was an overall winner of The Peggy Jarman Trophy, selected by a team of judges from the winners of all the 11 categories.

131 entrants were received this year, including small and large front gardens, schools, community groups, commercial properties and tourism businesses. The results announced at the prestigious awards ceremony were "blooming" marvellous in each of the 11 categories:

Alan Titchmarsh MBE, VMH DL, said: "The Isle of Wight continues to live up to its name as 'The Garden Isle' and I'm delighted to present the awards that acknowledge the tremendous achievements of the Island's gardeners - both private and public."

Simon Dabell, Chairman, Visit Isle of Wight, who welcomed guests to the awards ceremony, said: "One of the aims of the Wight BID (Business Improvement District) is to deliver a holiday experience which encourages first-time visitors to return. With so many high-quality entries in this competition, and with the enthusiastic help from our sponsors, I am sure that this has helped Island gardens look at their best. We recognise that the landscapes and gardens across the Island are important to our visitors' enjoyment of their holidays and this competition helps to remind us all that we are a Garden Isle."

Kevin George, Chief Executive, Red Funnel, said "We are delighted to be the title sponsor of Wight in Bloom and would like to congratulate the winners and thank everyone who has entered. The standard was once again really high and it is particularly pleasing to see so many entries from schools and community projects which have helped the Island look its best this summer."

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