Ferndown In Bloom winners announced

The winners of the 2009 Ferndown In Bloom competition have been announced.

Three Judges took over five hours to inspect forty eight entries from residential and business properties that have participated in the revived competition that did not happen in 2008 following low entry numbers the previous year.  Several late entries were sadly unable to be included.

The Overall Winner of the best front garden category was Lyn Ovens of Ringwood Road; 2nd was Robin and Marie Fitzwalter of Wimborne Road West and 3rd  Cyril Haywood of Farm Road, West Moors.  Highly commended were Sandra Noakes of West Moors, D J Pile in Ferndown and Mrs K Donovan of Gladelands Park, Ferndown.

Apple Home Improvements at West Parley won the Best Business or Retail Category.  Second place was Ferndown’s White Heather Public House, followed by solicitors Luff Brook Carter. The Merchant of Venice Delicatessen was highly commended.

Sue Hook, Manager of the St Mary's Mews private retirement flats in the town won Best Patio, Balcony or Terrace category and the Best Community Spirit award goes to Ron Pearce at Homelands House Gardens on the Ringwood Road.

The award ceremony will be hosted on the 30 September by the Haskins Garden Centre, the key sponsor of the competition since 1992, where all entrants will be invited to join the Ferndown In Bloom committee led by former town mayor Lesley Dedman and Town Councillor Steven Lugg.

“We have been greatly encouraged by not only the number but also the quality of the entries this year,” said Steve Lugg.  “The more streamlined competition combined with higher prize values seems to have appealed to a new generation of people who enjoy gardening and who take pride in their business premises.”