THE Melplash Agricultural Society’s annual garden competition is back for 2019 and keen gardeners are being urged to take part.

The society’s garden and allotment competition is an opportunity for local residents to be rewarded for their creative skills and passion for gardening.

The competition is open to anyone who lives within a 12-mile radius of Melplash village church and gardens and allotments of any size can be entered.

There are prizes for the best large, medium and small garden, the best allotment and an overall winner.

The only stipulation is that a gardener is not employed for more than eight hours a week.

Peter Yeates, horticultural section chairman, said: “The society’s garden competition, now in its 26th year, has been a great success since its inception.

“You don’t need to be an expert gardener to enter, or even need a big garden as it is all about how well you use the space that you have. It is open to everyone.

“If you are proud of what you have achieved, please do seriously think about entering and get recognised for your hard work and horticultural talents.”

The closing date for applications in Wednesday, June 27 and judging will take place on Tuesday, June 18 and Wednesday, June 18.

The winners of each category will each receive a cup and Groves Nurseries garden centre vouchers, which will be presented at the Melplash Show on Thursday, August 22.

The judges this year are last year’s allotment winner and best overall garden winner, Mrs Christine Holmes-Studley from Hinton St George, and medium garden winners, Mr and Mrs Tim and Gill Tarling from Bridport.

To enter the competition, visit www.melplashshow.co.uk or call 01308 423337 to find out where paper copies are available.