GardenFest 2015: Do you have what it “rakes”?

The seeds have been sown for this year’s GardenFest as Provost Robert Moran opened nominations at the garden of last year’s winner, David Dow, this morning alongside fellow judges Cardwell Garden Centre Director, Kieran Gallagher, Ken Thomson and Greenock Telegraph columnist, George Irvine.

GardenFest 2014 winners
GardenFest 2014 winning garden with Provost and judges.

The annual event sees the best gardens across Inverclyde vie for a range of awards including Best Patio Garden, Best Shrub Garden, Best School Garden, Best Newcomer, Best Garden Feature, Best Vegetables/Fruit & Edible Crops and, new for 2015, Best Tenement/Back Court Garden. 

Provost Moran said: “I am delighted to be involved in an event that showcases the best of Inverclyde gardens.  We are hoping for another bumper year of entries so I would encourage residents from all over the area to take part, whether you enter your own garden or nominate a friend or neighbour; from expert green fingered growers to budding horticulturalists, everyone should have a go.”

Cardwell Garden Centre’s Kieran Gallagher added: “We are delighted to play our part in this year’s GardenFest and continue supporting this important competition.  Year on year we are impressed by the quality of gardens in Inverclyde especially in this one we are standing in; I am in no doubt that 2015 will see more of the same and I am very much looking forward to the judging stage.”

The closing date for applications is Friday 24 July after which the judging stage will commence.  As well as the six specialist categories there will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes for each of the six wards and a judges’ discretionary prize all of which are sponsored by Cardwell Garden Centre and will be presented at an awards ceremony in October.

Application forms can be collected from Inverclyde Council Customer Service Centre, Greenock Telegraph Offices and Cardwell Garden Centre or downloaded from: www.inverclyde.gov.uk/events. 

Completed applications should be returned by post or in person to:

Corporate Communication, Inverclyde Council, Municipal Buildings, Greenock, PA15 1LY

Or emailed to: rachel.forbes@inverclyde.gov.uk

For further information about this year’s GardenFest, call 01475 712032.