Entries closed on 30^th June and we selected our favourite to win the Best of Devon Hamper and Golden Spade Award. From a shortlist of 6, the winner was Sharron’s delightful garden in East Devon. We headed off the following week to deliver her prize and have a look around her wonderful garden.

We sat on Sharron’s swing bench and chatted about the plants and animals that inhabit this tranquil corner of Feniton near Honiton. It was easy to see that Sharron not only loves her garden but is passionate about every creature that she shares it with, from bees and caterpillars to hedgehogs, slow worms and goldfinches.

Her work as a carer doesn’t quite leave her enough time to garden as much as she would like but she said that the upside of that is that she has taken her time to plan it as she wants it. And during lockdown her family has really helped out with moving those plans on.

Sharron was already aware of the Countryside Mobility Hire Scheme trampers as she had researched the scheme for her care clients so she was really keen to enter her garden photo and raise £1. But she said she never thought she might be the winner as she thinks her garden is “a bit untidy”. Well, we all think it is absolutely charming!

“I am overwhelmed by the fantastic hamper… Thank you so much to all those involved in organising this competition and for providing the delicious and locally produced goodies. It is also great that Living Options Devon will benefit too, as they provide a brilliant service, enabling everyone to access the countryside. I am thrilled and surprised to have won the competition and am still smiling! I absolutely love my trophy and am going to show it off to everyone I know!!”

Once again we’ve been thrilled with the positive response from producers of fine food and drinks in Devon. The prize for the winning photo is a wonderful selection of goodies.

Black Tor Brewery generously donated an entire mixed case of their ales and bitters and Black Tor Rum donated a full 70cl bottle of their golden rum. Frobishers in Exeter provided thirst quenching sparklers and cordials in a selection of flavours. Otter Brewery near Honiton donated a girft box of 2 bottles of their popular Otter Ale together with a logo’d glass. Waterhouse Fayre at Burlescombe delivered a bagful of jam, chutnety and marmalade. Our neighbours Good Game in Topsham donated their charcuterie platter and a jar of their tasty Bacon Jam. Four Elms Fruit Farm at Newton Poppleford gave bottles of their Devonshire apple juice and Devon Roots cider. Highfield Preserves at Willand contributed jam, marmalade and chutney.

As for last year’s campaign, we have once again been absolutely delighted to see the gardens that our fellow Devonians create and nurture. Amongst all the difficulties of recent months it seems that gardening has been a vital positive to so many. We hope you will all return next year to share even more beautiful images with us.

In the meantime our sincere thanks to everyone involved, all the gardeners who took the trouble to contact us and especially the companies who have donated to the Best of Devon Hamper.