HILLREED Homes has announced the winners of the gardening competition it held for owners of the developer’s new homes at Orchard Edge in Iwade, near Sittingbourne.

The winners are Ted and Pat Spicer for best hanging baskets and Jody and Hazel Solly for best front garden.

Jo Richards, sales and marketing co-ordinator, said: “Orchard Edge is a major project for Hillreed and has been the recipient of a number of awards for its design and environmental considerations.

“We have made a concerted effort to create a village atmosphere and this has been achieved by a number of initiatives by Hillreed to help the community establish itself. We have set up a wide variety of facilities and organised events for residents, one of which was the very popular gardening competition.”

Owners were asked to enter either their front garden or their hanging baskets and on a very warm and sunny day they were judged by Kent’s leading expert in gardening, Doug Goodyer, who has a weekly three-hour live phone-in on BBC Radio Kent.

Doug said: “The standard of gardens and flower baskets was extremely high bearing in mind that for many this was the first summer in their home.”

Winners of both categories were awarded a cheque for £250 from Hillreed Homes.