The first ever gardening competition to be held in Halcon, Taunton, has been declared a great success by rural affairs and garden journalist and broadcaster Rebecca Pow who was one of the judges and who presented the prizes at an awards event yesterday.
The Halcon area in Taunton is in the 5% most deprived areas of the UK, with unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence being major issues. Over the past five years a new approach by police and other agencies through the Halcon One Team, has begun to turn the area around and reported crime has dramatically fallen by almost 30%.
The gardening completion is one of many new initiatives being used to tackle the areas issues. Run by the Halcon One Team with the backing of Taunton Deane Council, 20 locals entered their gardens and back yards. Speaking at the awards ceremony yesterday, Rebecca, well known for her ITV West, Discovery and Channel 4 gardening programs said: “The range of gardening styles was impressive from natural schemes that are good for wildlife and bees, glorious hanging baskets and bedding schemes all grown from seed, shrub borders with all year round colour, a number of ponds and water features and some lovely individual touches. The whole idea was to encourage people to take pride in their area and hopefully entice others to follow by example. Gardening is positive on so many levels, it doesn’t just make the area look good but the physical activity of gardening is great exercise and being in touch with nature and watching plants grow really does raise the spirits. All round the competition was a great success!"
The Fowler family, from Bramley Road, were judged worthy winners, taking home £150, thanks to their intensely colourful garden full of annual flowers and produce in beds and containers, making use of every inch of space.
Runners up were Mr and Mrs Hellard, of Inner Circle, who won £100, in third place with a £50 award were Hayley and Roger Brauer of Monmouth Road while Mr Venton, also of Inner Circle came fourth with a £25 prize.
Every entrant received a certificate and a bag of gardening products from Monkton Elm Garden Centre in Taunton as well as free restored, old garden tools handed out by the Tool Shed charity. The event was so well received that the One Team plan to run it again next year.