Saundersfoot in Bloom has hosted its awards evening celebrating this year's floral contest winners, recognising community efforts and garden excellence.

Bloom Chairman Keith Williams opened by recapping the year's events and thanking volunteers for their dedication, which enabled successes like the ‘Flower Festival’ and village planting projects. He also thanked the generosity of entrant John Manchester who is not only a gold-winning gardener but also a cake-making extraordinaire - donating gorgeous cakes for the event!

Keith thanked this year's judges who were all new to the competition, Steve Duckworth (Saundersfoot in Bloom member), Jeff Blain (allotment owner) and Anna Reid (Trevayne Farm).

The judges loved being welcomed into people's beautiful gardens and green spaces, what a privilege to see all that hard work and creativity up close!

This year Saundersfoot in Bloom aligned with RHS marking standards, offering Gold, Silver Gilt, Silver, and Bronze awards alongside category winners. Congratulations to all, you should all be so proud!

Winners were as follows:

Best garden visible from the road + Gold award - John Manchester. Gold - Paul price, Incline Way; Ann Lewis, North Close; Halina Stone, Bevelin Hall. Silver Gilt - Malcolm Morgan, Bevelin Hall; Rowland Williams, Sandy Hill Road. Silver - Gwen Deakin, The Ridgeway,;Helen Addison/Graham Boswell, Sandy Hill Road.

Best garden not visible from the road + Gold award - Ann Lewis, North Close. Gold - Philip Horseman, Brookdale; Malcolm Morgan, Bevelin Hall. Silver Gilt - Rowland Williams, Sandy Hill Road.

Best vegetable patch + Gold award - Paul Price, Incline Way. Gold - Malcolm Morgan, Bevelin Hall. Silver Gilt - Gwen Deakin, The Ridgeway.

Wildlife Champion + Gold award - Malcolm Morgan, Bevelin Hall. Gold - Paul Price, Incline Way.

Best container garden + Gold award - Ann Lewis, North Close. Silver Gilt - Diane Rigden, North Close. Silver - Tessa Pearson, Valley Road and Helen Addison/Graham Boswell, Sandy Hill Park.

Best Senior Citizens Garden - Paul Price, Incline Way

Best first time entrant - Halina Stone, Bevelin Hall

Best use of colour - John Manchester, North Close

Best Commercial Premises - Saundersfoot Bay Leisure Park

Best Dressed Shop - The Shoe Box

Hospitality - Best display visible from the road + Gold award - Harbwr Bar & Kitchen. Gold - The Captain's Table

Hospitality - Best garden + Gold award - The Old Chemist. Gold - The Captain's Table

Hospitality - Best display of pots and containers + Gold award - Harbwr Bar & Kitchen. Gold - The Captain's Table.

Best commercial premises + Gold award - Saundersfoot Bay Leisure Park

Best dressed shop + Gold award - The Shoe Box, Brewery Terrace.

‘Floral Ambassador Award’ for commitment to floral displays that enhance the village and strengthen community pride was awarded to The Regency Hall, and Saundersfoot Community Council.

The organisers also gave the public opportunity to 'nominate a garden' and had 287 responses!

Maybe it was a garden whose colours or planting evoked a memory, or the colours brightened their mood and lifted spirits or maybe where the effort put in to a garden deserved acknowledgement. Many gave a reason why and we were able to include them on their certificates.

Several houses on popular dog walks, bus routes or closer to the village had multiple nominations such as 5, Whitlow - ‘A treat for the eyes every time we go past, my children's favourite garden", Valley Farm on Valley Road - "we enjoy seeing it everytime we go past on the 381 bus", Wogan House - "it makes walking up that hill worthwhile, the pots and baskets are a reward", Coppet Hall Cottage - "we always say we've arrived on holiday as soon as we can see the garden - a sea of flowers", and Highbury - "an eye-catching, cheerful burst of colour on Broadfield Hill". Periwinkle Bistro was also nominated - "unusual flowers and colours, makes having a coffee feel like you're in a garden" as was the Community Council's Sensory Garden - "an oasis of calm, a place to switch off".

“Award recipients showed genuine delight and a warm, celebratory mood filled the space sparking conversations about new ideas and categories for next year. We're already looking forward to the 2026 competition!” said Julie Davies of Saundersfoot in Bloom.

Saundersfoot in Bloom extends sincere gratitude to St Brides Spa Hotel for their community support in hosting the annual Garden Competition Presention Evening. The hotel's donation of complimentary venue space and refreshments enabled the group to bring together local residents for the awards presentations last night.