THE LONG hot summer of 2018 has been one to remember for an East Hampshire gardener after scooping a top award.

Tidda Dobbs was awarded her first Banksian Medal by the Froxfield and Privett Garden Club after amassing the most points at their spring and summer shows.

The summer event, which took place on August 18, was also a good one for Ian Payne as he won top prizes in the tomato and flower classes.

Gardeners defied the hot conditions to enter a decent crop of flowers, fruits and vegetables while the quality in the flower arranging section was also high.

Some amusing moments were captured in the Life on the Farm photography competition while entries in the hanging basket and container competition were bursting with colour. The Rainbow playgroup children painted colourful bugs on tiles while Froxfield Infant School pupils produced ‘In my garden’ pictures.

Laura Piper, Elizabeth Houghton-Connell, Sophia Scott, Sue Kinlochan, Jan Cole and Lorna Smallbone all collected trophies while there was a slight rise in the number of exhibitors.