A GOOD garden is always evolving and that is definitely the case for the winner of last year’s competition.
Gareth Creech wowed the judges by bringing a taste of the tropics to the edge of Barnsley town centre.
His oasis of calm featured plants from around the world and transports anyone who visits to another land entirely.
It earned him the trophy for Barnsley’s Best Garden and we are back this year to crown a new winner.
[Details of how to nominate or enter this years competition can be cound at the end of this article.]
Gareth, who works at the Glass Works, said: “Once the winner was announced I got lots of wonderful compliments and congratulation messages, especially on my Instagram account.
“It took me a while to believe that my little tropical garden had won me an award.
“The trophy has pride of place on my bookshelf in the front room - I once heard that Cher used her Oscar as a door stop but luckily I don’t have any doors that won’t stay open by themselves.
“If I was to offer anyone advice who was thinking of creating their own tropical-style garden - or any other style of garden - is to make it fun and don’t take it too serious.
“You will make mistakes, I still do and no doubt I will make some more.
“It’s the most amazing feeling to come home from a hectic day at work and spend time relaxing in the garden.
I do seem to get a lot more gardening advice questions now, from friends, colleagues and the market traders.
“I always feel shy when giving advice and often say: ‘I’m no expert, but this is what I would do’ before giving advice.
“That’s my little disclaimer.
“So far I haven’t been accused of killing anyone’s plants.”
But what’s Gareth been up to since winning?
“The biggest change, which only happened recently, is the addition of a large pond.
“We had a little decorative wildlife pond last year but always had ambitions to go even bigger.
“We had a raised patch of grass close to the house that was a bit of a dead space, not very accessible and not very level.
“It doesn’t really sound like a good spot for a pond but it’s worked out perfectly.
“Last year I had ideas of turning this space into a beach but the pond won the battle.
“We removed over 30 large rubble sacks of clay soil, and had to purchase 16 bags of sand, 12 bags of gravel and a pallet of decorative rocks.
“It’s been quite a challenge both physically and mentally getting the levels right and the filter system set up, but the results are fantastic.
“We are just waiting for the weather to improve before we add fish.”
Unlike more traditional gardeners, Gareth has to winter-proof his prized possessions as they are not accustomed to colder temperatures.
He added: “We had rather a mild winter, thank goodness.
“To be safe I still protected some of the more tender plants with green garden fleece.
“They included Musa Basjoo ‘hardy banana’, Dicksonia Antarctica ‘Australian tree fern’, Washingtonia Robusta ‘Mexican Fan Palm’, Phoenix Canariensis ‘Canary Island Date Palm’ and Gunnera Manicata ‘Giant Rhubarb’.
“All of which have survived perfectly, in fact they’re are doing extremely well due to the milder weather we’ve had during March and April.
“In some coastal parts of the country the winter prep and results can be quite different.
“Funnily enough in the ‘not-so-tropical Barnsley’ simply wrapping them in garden fleece seems to work well.
“My head is full of plans, some more ambitious then probably practical. However it worked well for the pond idea.
“Keeping it on the level, I feel I’ve got the main planting aspects sorted, so I’d like to add some more ‘tropical-tiki-nautical’ decor around the garden.
“I’m currently on the look out for some old whiskey barrels and a rustic ship stirring wheel (a helm) to sit beside the pond.
“I still get more pleasure purchasing things like compost and seaweed plant feed than I probably should, I’m often told be other fellow gardeners ‘it’s a gardener thing’.”
DO you have a garden to rival Gareth’s? Then we want to hear from you.
We are now accepting nominations for this year’s competition and would like to feature new gardens across the summer months in the Chronicle.
It does not matter if you have a houseplant obsession, a dahlia dreamland or a traditional cottage garden - please get nominating.
Send pictures, addresses and contact details to: ashley.ball@barnsley-chronicle.co.uk
