Awards For People Who Make Their Gardens Look Beautiful

Published on: 13 Sep, 2022
Updated on: 14 Sep, 2022

The 2022 Guildford in Bloom awards ceremony. All photos by Paul Stead.

The winning keen gardeners and growers who entered this year’s Guildford in Bloom competition have received their awards.

Gold and Best in Category winners were:

Best School in Bloom: Puttenham CofE Infant School.
Best Container Garden: Mary Lam.
Best Garden for Wildlife: Lisa Firth of Homestead Flowers.
Best Site for Nature Conservation: Clandon Wood Nature Reserve and Natural Burial Ground.
Best Pub in Bloom: The Royal Oak.
Best Allotment/Kitchen Garden: Ian Knee and Charlotte Waitt.
Best Front Garden: Susan Clutterbuck.
Best Neighbourhood Project: Headway House Community Garden.
Best Young Gardener: Burpham Allotment Church.
Best Themed Entry: Wonersh and Shamley Green CofE Primary School.

The overall competition winner Susan Clutterbuck (green dress).

And the winner of the overall competition was Susan Clutterbuck. The competition’s committee and judges said that Susan has dedicated herself to her front garden (and back garden) since becoming widowed last year.

The judges felt immersed in the fragrance of the flowers and sound of bees buzzing and felt it was somewhere they wanted to stay longer. The garden certainly is a focal point in the road.

Also, the judges and the committee said Susan’s garden is not only very well maintained garden, it fulfils the brief of Guildford in Bloom in making Guildford a better place to live and work. And without doubt, her garden makes you want to stop and pause to enjoy it.

The theme of this year’s competition was the Queen’s platinum jubilee, and the judges said the increased interest in gardening that happened during lockdown has continued, and the entries in all categories were of an extremely high standard, making the judges’ work very hard indeed.

Joe Talbot (left) and Paul Spooner.

The awards was hosted by BBC Radio Surrey’s Joe Talbot with the Buildford in Bloom chairman, Paul Spooner, and prizes were presented by The Mayor of Guildford, Dennis Booth, along with many of the competition’s sponsors.

The Rhythm of Life Community Choir.

There was music by the Park Barn-based Rhythm of Life Community Choir.

The chairman of Guildford in Bloom, Paul Spooner, added: “I am delighted that we have been able to run a successful competition this year with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee as our theme.

“Our thanks to all who have taken part and the judges’ feedback recognises the enthusiasm and efforts of all involved in all categories.

“I would like to thank all involved and particularly the judges for visiting every single entrant.

“The competition would not be as successful as it is without the support of sponsors and we would like to thank Chapters Financial and Silverback Studios, our platinum sponsors, who along with Guildford Borough Council and all of our sponsors, allow us to run the competition.

“We are also particularly grateful to The Rhythm of Life Community Choir for providing spectacular entertainment for the evening, and to the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre for being the perfect venue.”

Full details of all the 2022 winners can be found on www.guildfordinbloom.com and details of the 2023 competition will be posted early in the new year.

Here are a selection of pictures of some of the winners.