Years of work by green fingered Kings Langley residents seemed to pay off as judges at the village’s annual gardens competition were left stunned by the quality.

A disappointing summer so far and the hosepipe ban could not stop the beautifully manicured gardens blooming into life.

Judge Terry Simmonds visited all 24 entrants last Sunday (July 29) and said he was hugely impressed by the overall standard.

Mr Simmonds, who works at competition sponsors Garden Scene in Chipperfield singled out an effort by Kevin and Susan Lee of Rucklers Lane for their inventive use of water features and awarded them the best outstanding feature prize.

He said: "I was very impressed with the standard of entries this year because it has been a particularly difficult year for gardening.

"The ones that won were the ones that impressed me the most but the standard was well up there, even the gardens that didn’t win were extremely impressive.

"The winners of best outstanding feature was a particular highlight, the garden was full of contraptions and there was water spurting out of everywhere."

Retired builder Mr Lee, of Rucklers Lane, said he had been building devices over a number of years to keep his young grandchildren entertained.

He said: "We have four grandchildren aged 17, eight, five and four and I have always just done bits and pieces for them.

"I like to think I have always been quite artistic but I don’t do it as much now as I used to."

Mary and Peter Hiscock of Church Road held on to the best front and back garden award while John Gill was selected as best newcomer as well as second place in the best back garden category.

Mr Simmonds said: "Mary and Peter Hiscock’s garden was a beautiful garden and very well maintained.

"The house is very, very old and the garden is absolutely charming with a lot of interesting features.

"John Gill’s is an incredibly steep garden, possibly the steepest I have seen, and runs right up to the railway tracks.

"They have laid it out beautifully with paths going up and up and up."

Commercial premises were also recognised with Chiswell Pools on Hempstead Road winning the ‘best commercial premises display’ while the Saracens Head pub pipped the Red Lion and the Rose and Crown to the ‘best pub display’ prize.

The competition was organised by Kings Langley Parish Council with Councillors Gerry Angiolini, Julie Barton and Peter McDonnell accompanying Mr Simmonds on last Sunday’s visits and were involved in the final decisions.

Councillor Angiolini said: "The gardens of Kings Langley are something to behold. It is so tough to judge it.

"I was so impressed with the standard and it is quite amazing, you wonder how some people find the time to put in so much work."

Each of the winners will be presented with a £5 voucher for Garden Scene and the winner of the Best Overall Garden prize will be announced at a presentation evening in October.

The winners are:

  • Best Pub Display: Saracens Head
  • Best Commercial Premises Display: Chiswell Pools
  • Best Newcomer: John Gill
  • Best Managed Wildlife Garden: Tina Coughtrey
  • Best Managed Allotment Plot: Plot 3
  • Best Front & Back Garden:  Mary & Peter Hiscock
  • Best Back Garden: John North
  • Best Front Garden: Gill & Alan Busby
  • Best Hanging Basket, Tubs and Troughs: Wendy & Wayne Rycraft
  • Best Outstanding Feature: Kevin & Susan Lee
  • Best Large Garden: Jo & Rob Kedgley