Mount Green residents Gary and Grace Gray are celebrating after winning a local gardening competition.
Gary wrote to us to tell us how his wife, Grace, won first prize for ‘Best Front Garden’ in the Runnymede in Bloom gardening competition, run by Runnymede Borough Council and sponsored by Squires Garden Centres.
Grace has become a keen gardener since she moved from the Philippines to the UK 10 years ago, spending hundreds of hours on her hobby since moving with husband Gary to their Mount Green home in Egham in 2018.
Gary said: “Gardening wasn’t really a thing in the Philippines, but here it’s massive, and Grace has really grown to love it. She’s made our rear and front gardens beautiful and was chuffed to win the gardening prize, the first one she’s ever entered. I’m very proud of her.”
As well as first prize for Front Garden, Grace was also awarded second prize for Best Newcomer. She received gardening vouchers as her prize, which has been spent on gardening equipment including a new pair of loppers to help with garden maintenance.
The couple, who both enjoy gardening, say that as well as being enjoyable to work and relax in, their garden has become a haven for wildlife. They even have the pleasure of seeing a number of hedgehogs in their garden most nights.
Sophie Appleyeard, Neighbourhood Officer for Mount Green, said: “We were so happy to hear about Mr & Mrs Gray winning the Runnymede Borough Council gardening competition. The work they’ve done has made their outside areas beautiful, restful spaces. Huge congratulations to them.”