Wight in Bloom

Wight in Bloom is the Isle of Wight’s largest competition of its kind and the winners of the 2024 Wight in Bloom have been revealed.

Organised by Visit Isle of Wight, Wight in Bloom is the Island-wide competition to discover the green-fingered talents of residents and businesses who go above and beyond to help the Island cement its reputation as ‘the Garden Isle’ and looking colourful for you when you visit our Island.

Scroll down to discover the winners in each category and the awards they achieved. 

 

Best Small Tourist Attraction Garden

• Winner - Farringford Estate, Freshwater

Judges' comments - "I am sure Lord Alfred would be most impressed, what a beautiful garden. So much planning has gone into this garden by the whole estate team and many volunteers. The soil is perfect and well maintained to produce such blooms and their pest control is first class and so clean the greenhouse you could live in. I only scratched the surface but will definitely be going back."

• Runner-up – Rylstone Tea Gardens and Crazy Golf, Shanklin

Judges' comments - "So much work has gone into keeping this garden going in difficult times great admiration for this one gardener to keep it up together."

Best Large Tourist Attraction Garden

• Winner - Blackgang Chine, Chale

Judges' comments - "A great range of plants for sensory needs, good use of natural stream. Composting and recycle centre well hidden. Lovely flower boxes and planting suitable for area and the proximity to the sea. Very tidy Maze. Blown away at how beautiful the planting was."

• Runner-up - Carisbrooke Castle, Carisbrooke (outskirts of Newport).

Judges' comments - "The garden is excellently laid out and has a great mixture of plants. A very pleasant garden, which fits the surroundings perfectly."

Best Commercial Garden

• Winner - Island Riding Centre, Newport

Judges' comments - "A 55 acre complex who are doing so much. They support the land with rotation, it is fully organic and has habitat creation for moths and other insects. They attained ISO 14001. They even planted lavender near the horses to calm them down. So much excellent work going on."

• Runner-up – Luccombe Hall Hotel, Shanklin

Judges' comments - "Really lovely garden well kept and a good selection of plants including evergreens, hydrangeas and roses. A large pond area which is excellent for wildlife."

• Highly Commended - Haven Hall Hotel, Shanklin

Judges' comments - "Many sustainable features including bat boxes and bee hives. Many roses. Highly maintained garden neat and tidy and well stocked."

Best Climate Resilient Garden

• Winner - The Red Barn, Rookley 

Judges' comments - "This garden sums up the category that is entered. The location allows rewilding to be taken to the highest level. An education in horticultural practice - as specialist plants were introduced in order to attract rare species. Amazing - well done."

• Runner-up - Rylstone Tea Gardens and Crazy Golf, Shanklin

Judges' comments - "All plants were grown from cuttings or seeds, huge amount of effort into encouraging wildlife with no chemicals at all being used. Information for visitors on slate boards plus the whole garden is easily accessible, all on one level. It was fantastic."

Patron’s Award

• Winner - Godshill Model Village, Godshill

Judges' comments - "The winner of the Patron's Award is a garden that stood out and is an Island gem and popular with visitors. It is a place that takes your breath away. Fantastic care taken with the Bonsai’s and use of correct plants to fit the gardens and models. All year round care and work makes this garden a true wonder. A garden that attracts people from across the UK, an RHS partner garden where you can be a giant for the day. An outstanding entrant that is deserving of the Patron's Award."

Pride of Place Floral Project

• Winner - Bembridge Parish Council, War Memorial Garden

Judges' comments - "The colour, contrast and general layout are very good. Plants are in an excellent condition and well cared for. The garden is well established and very well maintained to a high standard with good quality plants and shrubs. Well cared for the water pollination and composting are first class and to be commended."

• Runner-up – Havenstreet Community Association

Judges' comments - "A beautiful peaceful setting in the middle of the village. A courtyard garden that is very zen and full of colour and structure. Very good composting areas and delightful bug hotel."

Best Small Front Garden

• Winner - Pat Jefferies, Lake

Judges' comments - "A very beautiful well laid out garden, lovely selection of plants and many different succulents in pots. There's a large pond surrounded by insects loving plants and is very wildlife friendly. This garden is a well deserved winner." 

• Runner-up – Joan Dyer, Ryde

Judges' comments - "A very well designed front garden and it was buzzing with insects. It has been designed with terraces and raised beds. Really beautiful only one point separating this garden from the winner."

• Highly Commended - Andria Richards, Nettlestone

Judges' comments - "A beautiful front garden which boasts many colourful plants and hanging baskets. Beautiful poppies and there are a couple of RNLI features including a mini boat filled with plants."

Best Large Front Garden

• Winner - William Thurbin, Niton

Judges' comments - "A delightful garden with plenty of interesting planting, a great range of recycled containers and wonderful combinations of coloured foliage. The design gives tantalising views of different parts of the garden especially the ‘moon’ ledge."

• Runner-up – Jane Cross, Shanklin

Judges' comments - "A beautifully laid out well maintained garden with a great selection of plants. Full of colour, texture and interesting leaf shapes well grouped and filled plant containers including some suitable for pond plants."

Best Young People Initiative

• Winner - Broadlea Primary School

Judges' comments - "Although a fairly small space at the entrance to Lake Train Station they have 2 large train planters and a lifeboat full of colour and variety and it really has the WOW factor. A fantastic display of colour and creativity in creating a small garden for all to see. The planters and bug hotel were unique and so well thought out. A good mix of plants in excellent condition."

• Runner-up – Godshill Primary School

Judges' comments - "It was wonderful to see the whole school involved with gardening from the pre school across the years. They have new planters and edible areas as well as a large education section to learn about the garden. Very impressed with the knowledge and passion of the pupils."

• Highly Commended - St Georges School

Judges' comments - "A very large space with a good variety of small gardens and a polytunnel and a wide range of different types of planting. Including accessibility raised beds, the gardens demonstrate a good awareness of the importance of recycling and being wildlife friendly with different types of compost heaps. Nice RNLI element too."

Best Edible Garden

• Winner - Nicola Fradgley, Niton

Judges' comments - "This garden gave us the feels of “the good life” a mature vegetable and fruit garden with trees bushes, vines. Annuals and perennials fill the garden with produce. Clever use of all available soil. Organic and veganic feeds used."

• Runner-up – Glenn Martin, Whitwell

Judges' comments - "Wow was the first impression the borrowed landscape views really add to the garden overview. The homemade rainwater harvesting irrigation is genius! A wide range of edibles throughout the garden - looking forward to seeing further developments."

Best Container Garden

• Winner - Nicky Robinson, Cowes

Judges' comments - "Great use of space very innovative, the judges thought this garden was worthy of Chelsea."

• Runner-up – Aly & Gary Inman, Sandown

Judges' comments - "Very colourful and a great use of every space, definitely kerb appeal."

Best Care Giving Complex Garden

• Winner - Bucklers View Housing Care, Cowes

Judges' comments - "Maximised ideas so all residents can enjoy the garden. Regular meetings with garden committee to develop the garden. Overall, thoughtful, colourful, varied and well adapted to suit residents for health and well-being. Impressed by horticultural practise and sustainability."

• Runner-up – IOW Ambulance Station Rest and Well Being Garden, Ryde

Judges' comments - "NHS England funding put to good use to create an attractive well maintained area for staff. Seating well placed. A range of plants that are well nurtured. Recycled traction splits for climbers, overall a lovely relaxing area for staff to relax and reflect in."

Peggy Jarman Award for Overall Winner 

• Winner - Farringford Estate, Freshwater

Judges' comments - "This garden has done amazing things over the years. They are huge advocates of Wight in Bloom and all things gardening. The garden is sympathetic to the history of the site and makes a nod to the writer that lived here. The garden has a huge range of plants and the way the colour is spread across the garden was inspiring. 

The Wight in Bloom (overall) winner would need to be stunning, immaculate, Innovative with a good range of suitable plants and have a significant "WOW" factor. This garden had all of the above and planting that is resilient and gardeners that are learning each year. Very well done."