THE WINNERS of this year’s Petersfield in Bloom competition have been announced.
Once again the competition caught the imagination of the town, with residents, businesses and community groups getting involved.
The judges were impressed by the quality of the entries and were left with some difficult decisions.
The winning entry for the solo category was Jacky Strawbridge, while Downs House Gardening Club’s entry was highly commended.
Rowland’s Funeral Services won the multi category for its display in its courtyard. Keith Whitcombe was highly commended.
The judges agreed Downs House Gardening Club was a worthy winner of the unusual container category. Lyn Colbeck was highly commended for her entry.
Petersfield Town Council events and media officer Kathryn Ellis-Blandford said: “I would like to say thank you to everyone who entered this year’s competition and did their bit to brighten up the town with their efforts.
“Hopefully everyone enjoyed taking part.”
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2021 competition, like last year’s, was held virtually.
Entrants sent their photos to the town council, with councillors picking the winners in each category.
Once again, like last year, the number of categories was smaller than usual, with three categories this year.
Kathryn added: “We would usually enrol judges from horticultural societies in neighbouring villages and appoint a councillor to each group.
“Each group are then provided with a route and two categories in which to judge.
“This year – as last – with all the uncertainty surrounding what we could and couldn’t do, it was decided we hold a virtual event, which was judged by town councillors.
“Later in the year we would normally invite our Petersfield in Bloom president, Pippa Greenwood, along to a presentation evening at the Rose Room at the festival hall to present the trophies. This year, however, we will present the winning plaques by hand.
“We hope to resume the usual methods of judging and presentations in 2022.”