Herm wins Floral Guernsey competition for second year

More than 90 volunteers from across the Bailiwick were invited to the event.

Judges John Woodward and Dave Stuart presented the discretionary awards and commendation certificates before the ultimate prize of the evening – the winner of the Floral Guernsey community competition, which was awarded to Herm Island for the second year in a row.

Herm gardener Robert Letherbarrow was one of the three main team members and has been involved for only the past year.

Head gardener Liam Gaughan and Shannon Murray made up the group, and the staff of the White House hotel were said to be a great help to the project.

‘We did a huge amount of work over the winter,’ said Mr Letherbarrow.

‘We created the woodland walk and those who came over in the spring would have seen thousands of daffodils growing.

‘The bluebells were better than they have been for years and years because there was nothing covering the woodland floor.

‘We had no expectations at all going into it but getting recognised for it like that was amazing,’ he said.

Veteran judge Mr Woodward said Herm stood

out compared with other entries.

‘What sets Herm apart is their innovative ideas and their young team,’ he said.

‘It’s exactly what you’d expect of Herm – they’re conscious of how it looks, it’s spotlessly clean and they’ve got some really pleasant floral displays around the Ship and the Mermaid.’

A zen garden was created recently on the island.

‘It is different from anything that is traditional,’ he said.

Herm’s success means it will be representing the Bailiwick in the national Britain in Bloom competition next year, which is the largest horticultural campaign in the country.

The Forest parish has also been invited to take up the Britain in Bloom opportunity because their scores were so close.

Judges presented awards and commendation certificates to winners.

Among them were John and Marilyn Garnham who took home the Floral Gold trophy for the 11th time in 15 years for the St Martin’s douzaine room.

‘The judges said the display was a pleasure. They said it was so neat and tidy with no weeds and that it was beautifully kept,’ Mr Garnham said.

‘We thoroughly enjoy doing it and people are passing through all the time.

‘It’s not a job that is a grind, it is a pleasure to us.’

The Joc Watts trophy was awarded to former Floral Guernsey chairman Pat Johnson for making an outstanding contribution to Floral Guernsey.