Drought hits bloom entry

Judges who toured the town with competition organiser Sandra Melvin on Monday had expected after two dry winters and predictions of a summer of water shortage to find conservation measures such as mulching and use of drought-resistant species in far great evidence.

They were also looking for water butts and other evidence of pre-planning.

With Cllr Peter Fairhurst chauffeuring the party in his people-carrier, the tour took in nearly 40 inspections, ranging from school pupils' first attempts at gardening to pensioner' pooled resources in creating housing project community gardens.

John Willis of Rother contractor John O'Conners, Ray Bates of Rotherview Nursery, Three Oaks and garden advisor and consultant David Fitton made notes on clipboards as they sought the winners.

At stake was the Chamber of Commerce Cup for the best hotel or guest house; the Dougie Boustred Cup for licensed premises, the Wyevale Country Garden Cups for private formal and informal gardens - some entrants were unsure which category to enter - the Bert West Memorial Bowl for container gardens, the Collington Lodge Cup for balconies, the retail.commercial category Rother Challenge Cup, the Bexhill Horticultural Society Challenge Cup for best environmental project, Observer plaques for good design and special awards and the Observer Cup for the overall area winner.

The team met Owen and Audrey Birch at Little Common Methodist Church where the couple tend the beds - despite not being keen gardeners. The First Little Common Cubs have their own planter outside the church.

In St Mark's Closed they found rows of planters and hanging baskets maintained by residents.

Did Cllr Stuart Wood's Collington Lane East garden fit the formal or the informal category? At Thornbank Crescent they saw how vegetables and flowers merge seamlessly in Barbara and Ed Echlin's organic garden.

Sunflowers peeped over the top of the fence in the sun-trap garden run by users of the 73a Centre in London Road. Despite its wind-swept De La Warr Parade setting the Sackville's garden was a colourful oasis.

In Albany Road, neighbours maintain a spirit of friendly competition with their hanging baskets and containers.

A year which has seen some regular competitors drop out for fear of being seen as profligate with limited water supplies has also seen first-time entrants take their place.

Sackville Road Methodist Church maintains its floral standards and, nearby, Bexhill Caring Community has joined the ranks by putting planters inside its windows.,

A scarecrow looks down on a raised triangular bed at Pebsham School which is packed with edible goodness. Pupils have a fine mixed crop including runner beans, carrots, tomatoes and cabbages. And that is as well as their courtyard garden with its wildlife area with bird feeders.

At Yvonne Robertson House in Hastings Road they found the areas between rows of flats filled with floral interest.

Residents devote hours of their time to caring for these stunning displays - which are kept watered from three newly-installed butts and filled and nourished by the products of resident John Crofts' greenhouse and composter.

Rimswell Cottage in Church Street dates back to 1590. That's why Joy and Don Doswell scoured the salvage yards in search of an eclectic mix of old materials to make up the path beside a true cottage garden. Next door the scent of lilies filled the courtyard of their neighbour's cottage.

Though, overall, the standard was patchy in a difficult year, there was still plenty of inventive, imaginative planting around the town to take the judges' interest and to give them a hard time in making their choice.