WALES local and gardening enthusiast Paula Phillips, has been announced as the runner-up in B&Q Gardener of the Year competition, winning a prize of £1000.
Paula was the winner of the Most Sustainable Garden category narrowly missing out on the coveted golden watering can trophy, which was awarded to a couple in Bournemouth for Best Entertaining Space.
Paula has been working on her garden since 2013, originally purchasing a small disused plot of land behind her house which she transformed into a garden inspired by the needs of wildlife as well as her own wellbeing needs. The centrepiece is a large clay lined pond fed by a natural spring and rainwater from the roof, providing a home for amphibians, birds and mammals. The garden is peat and chemical free, and uses homemade compost.
All planting, whether tree, hedge, shrub, perennial or bulb has been selected for its wildlife benefit not just aesthetic qualities. The garden is densely planted with succession in mind, ensuring that there is always something of value and interest throughout the seasons.
This year’s competition judges, including influencer Adam Marshall AKA @greenfingeredcityboy, B&Q head of outdoor, Mairi Devlin and award-winning garden designers, Matt Childs and Humaira Ikram, were particularly impressed by how the garden used sustainable practices to attract wildlife and create year-round interest, and the use of sustainable materials throughout the space.
With the prize money Paula plans to buy a ticket for the Beth Chatto Symposium; “Beneath the Surface” and visit other gardens that lead the way in ecological stewardship.
In its fourth year, the 2024 competition sought to celebrate and recognise the best gardens and outdoor spaces that bring creativity, colour and joy. Gardeners were encouraged to follow sustainable practices and allow nature to thrive. Categories included: Most sustainable garden, Best for planting, Best use of a small space and Best garden for entertainment.
Paula, said: “I’m delighted to have won the Most Sustainable Garden category in this year’s competition. The entire garden is designed to promote biodiversity whilst creating a beautiful relaxing space for all the senses, so I’m incredibly proud to have it recognised by B&Q and the judges.”
Mairi Devlin, Head of Outdoor, B&Q, commented: “The judges were impressed by how Paula’s Garden is a great example of incorporating sustainability but still having a beautiful outdoor space. It not only looks great, the focus on creating wildlife habitats as well as year-round interest, has been achieved by the use of simple sustainable materials, careful planting, and a pond as the main feature. A really beautiful and deserving winner of the sustainable garden category.”
Alongside Paula, two other runners up were chosen from the remaining categories, each of whom will be awarded £1,000. The winner of the Best Use of Planting was Ann Marie Swift and and Best Use of Small Space was Amanda Gomersall. The overall winner who entered into the Best Entertaining space was Odette and Rob Warmsley from Bournemouth who won £10,000, a £2500 B&Q gift card and the highly sought after golden watering can.
The Community Garden of the Year award was also back for a fourth year this year. With a £2,500 B&Q gift card won by the Newcastle Foodbank. This award celebrates an outdoor space which has been created by the community with the aim of improving the life and wellbeing of those in the surrounding area.
To create your own award-winning outdoor space, B&Q’s great value range of over 2,000 plants, which have been vetted for quality at every stage, is available at over 300 B&Q stores nationwide, to help make every garden bloom.
