GLASSES are being raised to a west Dorset pub which has been praised for its beautiful garden.

The West Dorset branch of the Campaign for Real ale (CAMRA) says the winner of its Pub Garden of the Year Award is the Crown Inn at Puncknowle.

The Palmers pub was nominated by a CAMRA member and then a team of volunteer judges

assessed its merits alongside other pub gardens in west Dorset.

CAMRA says the pub’s garden is set out in three areas utilising the relatively small space.

The main area is lawned with bench seating, surrounded by shrubs and dwarf walling with an apple tree taking centre place on a crazy paving patio which then leads to a raised area overlooking the Bride Valley.

Plants featured in the garden include honeysuckle hedging, Fuchsia Potentilla, night scented stock, lavender and carnations.

The garden is well balanced to cater for bees and butterflies and also features a herb garden

of which the produce is used in the pub kitchen. There is also a wild flower border.

On warm nights a wood-fired pizza oven is lit and the garden illuminated by stringed exterior lighting.

West Dorset CAMRA Chairman Dave Harris said: “We are always pleased to recognise a garden that enhances a pub.

“This year we’re glad to be giving our award to the Crown which was nominated and judged by our members to be the best in the competition.

“Well done to all at the Crown.”

Licensees of the Crown Inn, Anna and James Lemon, would like to thank all of their customers and families who have helped maintain the garden, and in particular Dave Bird for his work over the years, and to James’s mother Julie who has also been a great help.

Mr and Mrs Lemon also thanked CAMRA who they say do a lot to help the pub industry.

The couple, who have three daughters, previously ran a restaurant in Devon and took over the Crown last November.

Mr Lemon said: “It’s great to receive this award which recognises the work we’ve been doing.

“We’ve tried to make the garden as nice as we can. We’ve got a wild flowerbed and herb garden and some lovely trees. We’ve been trying to encouraging the bees as they need all the help they can get.

“It’s such a lovely spot out here with a such a great view too.”

He added: “We’d been looking to buy a pub for a year and we fell in love with this place.”