GREEN-fingered folk gathered at Alton Assembly Rooms for the annual Alton in Bloom prizegiving ceremony, presided over by town mayor Dean Phillips.

This year’s commemorative displays were in honour of the 200th anniversary of the death of literary legend Jane Austen and the judges were looking for Regency-themed planting and colour schemes.

They were also looking for creativity and were especially delighted with the Jane Austen-inspired scarecrows, garden sculptures and outdoor artwork.

Decided this year on photographic evidence, the judging panel was headed up by Alton Town Council community and events committee chairman Bisi Eni-Olotu and vice-chairman James Voller, supported by Celia Simpson (head gardener at Jane Austen’s House Museum) and Chris Feldon, of Garthowen Nursery in Four Marks.

Taking the Norman Pointing Trophy as overall competition winner for the town, and the Alton Horticultural Society Cup for the Best Small Front Garden, was Elaine Holton, of Queen’s Road, Alton, whose garden, with its riot of Regency colours, was a joy to behold.

Winner of the Vokes-Oakley Trophy for the best Holybourne entry was Complins resident Robert Lambert.

The Friends of the Allen Gallery picked up the prestigious John Smith Trophy for Outstanding Contribution to the In Bloom Effort, while Alton WI won the Tidy Up Alton Trophy and the Pritchards Garage Salver in the Best Community Group category for their splot – or small roadside plot – outside The White Hart on the junction of Butts Road and High Street.

The children delighted once again with their in bloom effort, with Happy Talk Nursery receiving the Pam Jones Trophy for their garden behind The Cabin in Anstey Park, while Alton Infant School won the Pam Jones Cup for the Best School Children’s Garden and the Communiweb Learn Direct Cup for the Best Community Building.

Winning this year’s special award for the Best Commemorative Jane Austen 200 Display were Martin and Rosemary West of Gilmour Gardens, whose garden best reflected the Regency theme. Mr and Mrs West also took the Clarke Trophy for the Best Planted Unusual Container.

The winner of the Town and Country Cars Cup for the Best Larger Front Garden was David Bowyer of Gardener’s Cottage, while Joan Mossop was awarded the Garthowen Cup for the Best Domestic Patio, Window Box or Tub.

The Alton Herald Plate for the Best Neighbourhood Area went to Gaskell Court, while the Mid Hants Railway Cup for the Best Commercial Premises was won by Bookers & Bolton Solicitors in Alton High Street.

Stephen Dearing, of Spitalfields Allotment (SP69), won the Best Kept Allotment Award, while Poppy and Stanley Thompson-Webb took the individual award for the Best Scarecrow in the Alton Horticultural Society categories, and Alton Infant School the Best Scarecrow Group award.

The Tallest Sunflower, at 13ft 10.5in, was grown by Corbin and Eva Whapshott, who won first prize in the children’s competition and overall, while the Young at Heart award went to Rebecca Smith for her sunflower which reached the lofty height of 12ft 11.5in.

And the winner of The Joan Richardson Memorial Trophy for the Unsung Hero of Alton In Bloom 2017 was Chris Feldon of Garthowen Nursery, for supplying and planting up the Regency themed planters, lamppost displays and hanging baskets in the town centre.