We’re top of the plots

School pupils lead the way in our annual Top of the Plots

The beauty of a garden is as much about the people behind it and their story of how it was achieved as the end result. So while the Chelsea Flower Show is top for design excellence, our Top of the Plots contest is inspirational in its own way.

Our annual extravaganza is a celebration of your efforts.

It’s a chance to share what drives you on, how you keep your gardens tip top and explain how an outdoor green oasis brings colour to your life.

And we’ve had some superb entries this time around.

We are so grateful that you spend time taking part, and I look at each and every picture of gardens sent in.

There wasn’t a single garden, hanging basket or lawn that failed to make me smile and appreciate the effort and joy that had gone into them.

We all get stuck into gardening for a whole host of reasons. But I’ve learned that gardens are very often a source of therapy and healing, and provide a sense of accomplishment in sometimes challenging times.

This competition demonstrates why we are a nation of green fingers and it shows what we love, whether that be order or chaos, nature or control, colour or greenery.

My congratulations to the winners and thanks again to everyone who shared their gardens with me.

We’ll be revealing the other contest category winners next week.

Happy gardening! Diarmuid