Two Shepherd Neame pubs win garden awards

Two Shepherd Neame pubs have been rewarded for their gardens in the brewer's annual Pub Awards.

The Generals Arms at Little Baddow, Chelmsford was awarded 'Large Garden of the Year' and the Woolpack Inn, Brookland, Romney Marsh, won the 'Best Hanging Basket / Small Garden' category.

The garden at the General Arms covers an acre with more than 20 picnic tables, a large patio and a children's play area. Planting consists of large shrubs, holly trees and a horse chestnut tree.

Licensees Gary and Debbie Welfare have only been at the pub for 11 months. Debbie said: "The recent weather has been ideal for the garden and I love working on it, in fact I'd spend all day out there if I could. Customers often comment that the garden looks beautiful."

The Woolpack Inn has 12 hanging baskets, which display petunias each summer and pansies each winter. It also has seating for 120 people and a barbecue area.

Licensee Barry Morgan was born in the village and tends the garden with the help of pub regular Roy Bushnell.

He said: "I couldn't do it without Roy - he does a lot of the hard work including mowing the grass while I dead head the flowers and water the plants. Everyone at the pub is delighted with the award."

Each pubs wins £250 of gardening vouchers, which will be presented at an awards ceremony next year.

The annual Pub Awards are organised to reward excellence in innkeeping skills.