First ever Housing Gardening Competition winners celebrate!

On Wednesday 12 July a number of South Derbyshire housing tenants came together at Maurice Lea Memorial Park in Church Gresley to celebrate their beautiful gardens and to collect their prizes at our first ever awards ceremony!

Attended by the Chair of the Council, Cllr Alistair Tilley, the inaugural Housing Gardening Competition event took place in front of the recently restored bandstand at Maurice Lea, during the Music in the Park celebrations. Winners and runners up were invited along to share an afternoon tea and enjoy an afternoon in the park, as well as picking up their prizes! 

And the winners of the Gardening Competition 2026, who were presented with their awards by the Chair of the Council, are as follows: 

Best Window Boxes, Hanging Baskets and planters:

3rd-Gillian and David Wynn 24 Coton Croft, Linton

2nd Colin and Kathleen Bates 22 Chapel St, Ticknall

1st Susan Jones and Kim Spencer 9-11 Patrick Close Linton

Best Individual Garden:

Joint 3rd place-Bill and Marion Matthews 5 Bailey Avenue, Overseal

Joint 3rd place-Wendy Freeman 37 Bailey Avenue, Overseal

Joint 1st place-Kath and Allon Farnsworth 5 Percy Wood Close, Hilton

Joint 1st Place-Shaun Gallagher-50 Bells End Rd, Walton on Trent

Best Community Garden

1st place-Percy Wood Community Garden, Hilton

The final category was added during the judging process, when judges were so impressed by the sustainability and biodiversity commitments of one particular resident, that he had to receive a prize! 

New Category: Best Environmental Garden

Stephen Tiso 9 Brook Close, Findern.

13 August 2026