Grove Park Group announces the winners of its front gardens competition

L to R: Kathleen Mitra; Jo Gilbert; Stephen Nutt

“Front gardens are too often overlooked or paved over”

The Grove Park residents’ association, the Grove Park Group has announced the winners of its front gardens competition.

There were 36 entrants in all which three judges, Chiswick Flower Market directors Stephen Nutt and Kathleen Mitra and WildChiswick director Jo Gilbert spent last weekend looking at in the blistering heat.

They were joined by Dennis Flaherty of the Chiswick Horticultural and Allotments Society and Dawn Wilson, who created graphics for the competition, for the final deliberations.

“Front gardens are too often overlooked or paved over”, said Steve, “so any initiative that encourages people to create attractive, welcoming and wildlife-friendly spaces is well worth supporting”.

Gold winner – 15 Chiswick Quay

‘Kerb appeal’

The Chiswick Flower Market provided the first, second and third prize of vouchers (£100, £75 and £50 respectively) to spend at the Market. The Chiswick Horticultural and Allotments Society also provided prizes – a £25 voucher for each of the three winners to spend at their trading hut.

The gardens were judged on “first impression and kerb appeal, design and use of space, plant mix and variety, plant quality and health, and overall maintenance”, said Steve. Wildlife and sustainability were judged separately by Jo.

WildChiswick donated a bat box to the winner of a special category for the most wildlife-friendly garden, and the Chiswick Horticultural and Allotments Society gave them three bags of compost.

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“We are most grateful to our independent judges who did such sterling work”, said Graham Holley, the new Chair of the Grove Park Group.

“Choosing the winners proved far more difficult than we had imagined”, Steve commented. “The final three were all outstanding, each with its own distinct character, and separating them was no easy task”.

Winning garden – 15 Chiswick Quay

“We thought The Chiswick Quay garden makes superb use of a relatively small space, with a carefully chosen mix of plants and materials providing texture and year-round interest. Beautiful from both the street and the home, its creative planting creates a warm and very inviting approach to the front door”. Steve Nutt

“Congratulations to the winners, and many thanks to all who took part for helping to make Grove Park an even more beautiful place to live”. Graham Holley

“I thoroughly enjoyed being the judge for the most wildlife-friendly garden in Grove Park”, said Jo. “I was delighted to see many that offered habitats for wildlife and several were separated by hedges, rather than fencing”. Jo Gilbert

Silver winner – 14 Grove Park Terrace

Bronze winner – 17 Chatsworth Road

Food, shade and shelter for wildlife

Jo chose 51 Wolseley Gardens as the winner of the wildlife friendly prize – “a small garden, yet it manages to provide good habitat for wildlife.

“Most of the garden is planted offering a diverse range of pollinator-friendly plants, and two magnificent mature wisterias offer valuable food and shelter for insects throughout the year as well as resting and nesting places for birds.

“The garden is shaded which is of value for many species during hot weather. A water feature provides drinking opportunities for birds along its edge, while decorative metal flowers hold water for pollinating insects.

“Good ground cover, some bare soil under the wisteria, a log pile for invertebrates, and a hedgehog house create places for wildlife to feed, rest and nest, whatever the season”.

Wildlife garden winner – 51 Wolseley Gardens