AN ANNUAL Chester gardening competition was a blooming success.

More than 180 green-fingered residents entered Chester & District Housing Trust’s (CDHT) garden competition, with categories including best overall garden, best group of gardens and best young gardener.

Winners at the awards ceremony held at Chester FC last week, were chosen by TV gardener Chris Beardshaw, who appears on Gardeners’ World, The Flying Gardener and Hidden Gardens, and is currently the ambassador for Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinctions project.

The prize for the best overall garden went to Jean Jeffery, of Newhall Road, Plas Newton, who won an engraved Scandinavian rose bowl glass trophy, £100 for winning the best overall prize, and £50 for coming first in the Plas Newton, Newton, Upton and Hoole categories.

Mrs Jeffery, who lost her husband Karl six years ago, said she was ‘shocked’ to win.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I have done every bit of the garden myself. I used to tell my husband what to do, but now I do my own designs,” she added.

“I’m sure Karl would be very proud of me. I spend a lot of time in the garden – it’s my pride and joy and winning this award is so rewarding for all my hard work.”

Other winners included Leah Bennett, of Saltney Ferry Primary School, who won the Nora Coote Award for best young gardener and received £30 and a family pass to Chester Zoo.

Gordon and Annie Langford, of Boughton, came first in the city category, Christopher Fenney,came first for Blacon North and Donald and Patricia Cowie for Blacon South.

Michael and Doreen Bride and Michael and Pamela Tomlins were joint winners for Lache and Handbridge, while best window box was won by John Jones, of Hoole.

And while The Square in Christleton was named best sheltered scheme, best vegetable garden was won by Donald and Carol Dalglish, of Malpas, and Lawrence Philpott, of Lache won best newcomer.

Best improved garden went to Dawn Hughes, of Blacon, best open space was won by Sandra Atkins, of Mickle Trafford and John Clarke, Farndon received the accolade of the best group of gardens.

John Denny, Chief Executive of CDHT presented the prizes and said the standard of entries ‘get higher each year’.

“These awards remind me why I came into housing and the importance of our commitment to communities.”