Is a winner thanks to Anna

When Anna Symmonds offered to help plant up a gravel patch outside her neighbour’s home in Newport, South Wales, she couldn’t have known how far the community garden would come.

Anna, 38, now has some eight helpers aged between 30 and 70 – as well as some children – and a previously uninspiring area in Camelot Gardens has been transformed into an urban oasis full of colour.

She said: “The gravel patch outside my neighbour’s house had fallen into a state of disrepair and was full of weeds.

“This formed part of the view from my kitchen when the back gate was open. After chatting to my neighbour, he was more than happy for me to plant up the space, so together we got to work.

“This simple idea became the source of an inspiring local project that has seen an unwelcoming walkway transformed into a floral haven that continues to spread, way beyond the original intention. Creating new friendships along the way with neighbours, Camelot Gardens is enjoyed by locals, their kids, passers-by and, of course, wildlife.”

Anna’s project is in contention for our Cultivation Street 2017 contest. We have a total of £20,000 of National Garden Gift Vouchers up for grabs.

There is £10,000 for the top community gardening project and best-tended streets and schools.

Other categories include Classic Cultivation Street and Cultivation School category.