A beautiful country garden captured the hearts of judges to win the Biggleswade Chronicle’s Garden Of The Year.

Susan Dutton of Ickwell was delighted to find she had won the overall title in this year’s awards – as well as winning the best large back garden category.

Her success was revealed in a prizegiving ceremony at Frosts at Willington.

The Garden Of The Year competition, supported by Central Bedfordshire Council and run in association with Frosts at Willington and our sister title the Bedfordshire Times & Citizen, attracted 59 entries – the biggest field yet.

Maurice Rust and Anne Toffs of Frosts were full of praise for Mrs Dutton’s garden.

They described it as “a beautiful country garden, landscaped to the natural contours of the land with open views to fields and Old Warden at the far end.”

There is a large patio and enclosed court yard full of beautiful flowering containers, hanging baskets and manger baskets.

“On one side there is a raised area with well established herbaceous plants for all seasons, an alpine garden with two streams and water falls. Sleeper steps lead to the upper garden that has a shady seating area partly surrounded by threes overlooking the open fields.”

A clutch of awards were presented on Thursday.

The best small front garden honour went to Thomas Cox of Sandy.

Judges described it a “a small and very beautiful ‘town’ front garden, planted with bedding plants and a good use of coloured chppings. It has colourful hanging baskets and window boxes.

“It is a stunning garden and a credit to Mr and Mrs Cox – Mr Cox grows all his own plants.”

The best allotment award went to Derek McDonald for the land alongside his Langford home. Judges said the garden had a great variety of vegetables and fruit trees and soft fruit.

Runners up in the best school garden section were St Mary’s Lower in Stotfold for a ‘beautiful peaceful garden’ including mobiles and statues, plus shrubs and flowers and Willington Lower School for their vegetable garden.

Biggleswade Chronicle Garden Of The Year:

Susan Dutton of Ickwell

Best Large Back Garden:

Susan Dutton of Ickwell

Runners-up

Lesley Bunker-Nixon and Eddie Wilkins of Cotton End and Lionel Wood of Great Barford

Best Large Front Garden:

Lois Jones of Bedford

Runner-up, Caroline  Gilby of Maulden

Best School Garden:

Brickhill Lower School

Runners-up, St Mary’s  Lower School of Stotfold, Willington Lower School

Best Small Front Garden:

Thomas Cox of Sandy

Runner-up, Polly Head of Great Barford

Best Small  Back Garden:

Sheila Relton of Houghton Conquest 

Runners-up, Matthew Bowler, Martin Cox of Biggleswade

Best Commercial/ Community Garden:

East Court  of Goldington Green

Runners-up, The White Horse pub of Bedford,

Bedfordshire & Luton Mind.

Best Allotment:

Derek McDonald  of Langford