NS

NS&I's national competition delivered exceptional results and inspirational gardens at BBC Gardeners' World Live 2010.

The competition is open to both professional and aspiring gardeners, and each of the three winners is given a grant by NS&I to create and build their garden at the show.  In 2010 the competition, received the highest number of entries since its inception, from gardening hopefuls eager to see their visions of a contemporary garden design brought to life at this year’s garden show.

In 2010 the winners were...

A ROOM FOR NESTEGGS - WINNER BEST IN SHOW, SMALL GARDEN 2010

Winner Heather Appleton from North Yorkshire fell into designing gardens five years ago by accident, after building a house that left a lot to be desired in the garden area. On completing an art & garden design degree she put her new garden skills to use by going on to design and build two show gardens in various competitions.

Heather commented: “My design ‘Room for nest eggs’ is a contemporary garden that plays on the idea of a wise investment by growing your own. I am over the moon that my design has been selected as one of the winners for this year’s Growing Gardens Today competition and I look forward to seeing ‘Room for nest eggs’ in the flesh at BBC Gardeners’ World Live later this year.”

‘Room for nest eggs’ features beautifully soothing and relaxing plants, such as easy to grow grasses used as ground cover. The design includes willow nests filled with vegetables, at workable heights, which can also be composted for later use. As well as the key themes of the competition, ‘Room for nest eggs’ also uses ‘room’ as a focus, and aims to encourage and show others who think that they might not have space to grow their own that the task is not only achievable, but can be done stylishly with time left over to 'lounge around' and totally relaxing in the garden!

SALAD BAR - WINNER OF THE VISITOR VOTE 2010

Winner Melissa Jolly, from Reading, has always been keen on gardening and recalls helping her father to plant geraniums in the garden at the tender age of four. After having children of her own she decided to re-train as a garden designer at The Oxford College of Garden Design and has recently set up her own garden design business.

Melissa sees garden design as another form of art and this is another factor which inspired her creation, ‘The Salad Bar’. “I believe my design is an organised, practical and aesthetic place to grow food. Growing at home has become increasingly popular over the years; however some people are still unsure of how to do this. ‘The Salad Bar’ is a practical solution that shows just how you can grow your own in a beautiful space which the whole family can enjoy.”

As well as sustainability, modernity and growing your own, convenience is another key theme of ‘The Salad Bar’. The design will be made using FSC wood and includes a wooden circular unit that not only doubles up as an area for potting plants and a bar table, it also has storage space underneath for tools and a compact composter and an integral glass cold-frame. Melissa has selected plants that are more commonly planted or harvested in May – June, such as Swiss chard, radish, and strawberries – plants that she feels would make delicious ingredients for salads.

We are also delighted to announce that Melissa won the Visitors Vote with her garden 'The Salad Bar' - congratulations Melissa!

Click here to read Melissa's blog

CALM AND CENTRED

Winner Lauren Davis from Devon began gardening as a child and designed her first small garden at the age of 15. Passionate about plants, with a desire to lead a healthier lifestyle by growing her own produce and spending more time outdoors, Lauren has spent many hours in her own garden and has worked as a gardener. She also has an honours degree and post graduate diploma in Landscape Architecture.

Lauren is delighted at the prospect of bringing her garden design to life at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live, saying: “This is an exciting new challenge that will further my experience in garden design. I created 'Calm and Centred' because I wanted to show others how gardening can be simple and accessible and something that everyone can do easily.”

‘Calm and Centred’, is a space that promotes simplicity and ease in gardening. It was created especially with those that may be apprehensive about gardening in mind. The circular design based on the traditional 'keyhole' planting bed scheme is specially sunken to create a more sheltered environment to assist with plant growth. Carefully selected edible plants, such as nasturtiums with cabbages and carrots with onions, have been used in Lauren’s design as these also make good planting companions which block and repel plant pests.

Read Lauren's blog at http://laurensshowgarden.blogspot.com/ or visit her website

Well done to all the winners - and don't forget you can see the winning designs in our gallery.