ENTHUSIASTIC gardeners met at the Shanklin in Bloom presentation evening on Tuesday, September 10.

The ceremony was held at the town’s Royal British Legion club, where the mayor, Cllr Steve Knight, presented garden vouchers and certificates to the prizewinners.

The committee declared themselves very pleased with both the number and standard of entries this year, thanking Shanklin Town Council, Stella Janeway, Carpets Direct, Shanklin Library and the Royal British Legion for their help in making the event a success, with additional gratitude reserved for the judges.

The Busy Bee trophies were awarded to Haven Hall Hotel and Mr and Mrs Smallman, with the Committee Trophy awarded to Columbus House.

David Barratt, who runs Haven Hall Hotel with wife Arielle, said: “We were delighted to win the award for best hotel in Shanklin.

“We are both avid gardeners, and love creating a place of beauty, peace and tranquillity for all of our guests to enjoy, it is something that we take great pride in.”

A Shanklin in Bloom committee spokesperson said: “We were really pleased so many turned up for the presentation evening.

“We look forward to seeing everyone again next year and hope word will spread to get everyone out sprucing up their gardens, as it makes Shanklin such a beautiful town.

“We would like to thank to our chairman, Maureen Cadle, who puts in so much work behind the scenes to make this possible.”