Karen and Dave Regain Henley Garden Competition Cup

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Henley residents with ‘green fingers’ were rewarded for their hard work in their gardens and allotments last week at the Henley in Bloom and Allotment Association Gardening Awards.

Karen and Dave Thatcher were the overall winners for the second time in three years for their beautiful front and back garden in Gainsborough Crescent.  They were awarded gold in the back garden medium size and front patio categories.  Their beautiful back garden features a pond, flower beds and pots and a thriving vegetable garden.

Two new residents who entered their gardens for the first time were also awarded gold.  Lisa Downer who lives in Remenham Terrace and Mr and Mrs Birrell in Gainsborough Hill both won gold for their back gardens.  Mr Chipp from Reading Road and Mr Ron White from Milton Close were awarded gold for their front patios too.

Jan Sutton was awarded the Gardening Buddy of the year which is sponsored by Hotel du Vin and Clive Hemsley was awarded the Elizabeth Hodgkin Community Award for his enthusiasm and commitment for his floral displays outside his house, ‘Longlands’ in Hart Street.

In the pubs and restaurant categories, the Three Horseshoes was presented with a special recognition award for their continued commitment and enthusiasm and both the pub, the Saracen’s Head and Pachangas both won the pub and restaurant categories for the second year in a row.

In the Allotment Association awards, Mick Blackhall won the best plot at Waterman’s and Mandy Taylor at Greencroft.  Peter Crook won the best newcomer at Greencroft and Keith Rowlings won the best newcomer at Waterman’s.

New for this year, the Henley Herald sponsored a new ‘On the Spot Award’ for a front garden that had not been entered into the competition but the judges felt should receive recognition.  The award was awarded to Mr Pat Maines (photo below) who lives in The Close, off Greys Road.  His front garden features a unique design – using driftwood with planting in between.  The garden also has range of colourful pots, an excellent range of different plants both annuals and shrubs and a hedge which has been trimmed to look like a sheep.  Michaela Clarke, Editor of the Herald said, “We are delighted to sponsor this new award.  Whilst helping with the judging again this year we saw lots of great front gardens that had not entered the competition and I thought that a new award should be given to another resident to recognise all their hard work for their outstanding front garden in the town.”

Kellie Hinton, Chair of the Henley in Bloom Committee said, “It was lovely to join together with the Allotment Association again this year for the third year to present awards to people who had worked really hard to make our town such a beautiful place to live, work and visit.  It was a really enjoyable evening and everyone was celebrating.  Special congratulations to Jan Sutton, Gardening Buddy of the year and Clive Hemsley.  Thank you to all of our sponsors, Toad Hall, Southern Plant and the Herald.”

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