Bloomin' marvellous!

First-time entrants take top title in annual celebration of garden talent

- Sentinel Reporter

A ‘MAGNIFICENT’ room-themed garden - bursting with colour and artistic flair - has been voted the best residential garden in Newcastle.

Val Rogers and Chris Walters are the headline winners of this year’s Newcastle in Bloom Awards.

The talented pair's garden ‘inspires, delights and enthuses the horticultural senses’ with a great mix of trees, shrubs, plants and recycling features.

They joined other gardeners at the New Vic Theatre for the results.

This year’s Local Bloomin’ Landmarks theme called for competitors to demonstrate civic pride by celebrating sites that make the Newcastle unique.

‘As well as residential gardens, judges visited schools, allotments, community gardens, businesses and licensed premises.

Chris Walters, of Newcastle, said the pair were ‘over the moon’ to win the overall title, ‘especially as first-time entrants’