The annual Peebles in Bloom Awards Ceremony was held in the Burgh Hall on Thursday 21st August. The project is run by Peebles Community Council. Our team walked all around the whole town and listed front gardens worthy of further inspection by judges. In addition, Secret Gardens – those which cannot be seen from the pavement – were nominated by residents.

The number of nominated gardens was whittled down and then visited by 5 teams of judges. Several factors are considered: variety, maintenance and colourfulness, as well as the presence of flowers and plants attractive to bees, butterflies and other insects.

The garden owners were welcomed to the event by Peter Maudsley, Chairman of Peebles Community Council. Peter acknowledged that 2025 has been a challenging summer for gardeners. The heat has been intense at times, it has also been very dry but when the rain has come it has often been quite torrential. Just a few weeks ago we had Storm Floris to contend with and yet despite it all the people in the hall had managed to create beautiful gardens. Peter also commended the wonderful dedication of the volunteer members of Bonnie Peebles and Floral Peebles. The tubs, flowerbeds and hanging baskets around the town are amazing.

He thanked Community Councillors Gill MacDonald, Anne Snoddy and Sheila Mackay for organising the project, and the people who supported the Peebles in Bloom project in so many other ways: the judges Carolyn Spray and Maggie Mowbray, Thomas Gifford and Grant Skillen, Jan Cameron and Helen Dewberry, Garry Rennie and Mark Bain, and John Falla and Drew Fraser; Garry Rennie for being Master of Ceremonies at the event, Chris Wood for managing the technical side of things, and Chris Mackie for organising the raffle to which the Community Councillors contributed gifts with a gardening theme.

During the evening there were interesting talks by Jane Davidson about the enjoyment experienced – and the benefits derived - by schoolchildren working in the Priorsford Primary School Garden, Carolyn Spray of Pentland Plants about the use of peat free compost, and Maggie Mowbray about pollinators.

The trophies were presented by local resident Brian Elliot. Brian has created a wonderful display of plants on the banking up at Kingsway and has gained many accolades and awards for it over the years.

The stage of the Burgh Hall was adorned with an array of colourful plants donated by Pentland Plants. Guests were invited to take the plants home at the end of the evening.

The OVERALL WINNER was Mrs Mandi Bain.

Mandi has a wonderful large garden at 22 Connor Ridge which often features in our Peebles in Bloom Awards. She has now developed a colourful plot in the communal area opposite her house which will give pleasure to all who pass by. As if that wasn’t enough she has also created a lovely display around the bench at the 4th tee on Peebles Golf Course which even features a chandelier hanging above the bench!

The other results are as follows:

All Year Round Gardens

Highly Commended: 1 Jubilee Park Bronze: 61 Edderston Road Silver: 10 Violet Bank Gold: Broomhill, 11 Venlaw Quarry Road

Courtyard Gardens

Highly Commended: 18 North Place Highly Commended: 19 Whitehaugh Avenue Bronze: 63A Old Town Silver: 14 Cademuir Drive Gold: 2 Haystoun Place

Very Small Gardens

Bronze: 3 Edderston Ridge Court Silver: 89 Whitehaugh Park Gold: 33 Kingsway

Small Gardens

Highly Commended: Ambleside, 31 Crossland Crescent Bronze: 24 Dukehaugh Silver: 50 Eliots Park Gold: Bisley, Damdale

Medium Size Gardens

Highly Commended: Easdale, The Mount Bronze: 54 Edderston Road Bronze: 16 Wemyss Place Bronze: 52 Eliots Park Silver: 33 Dukehaugh Gold: 88 Dalatho Crescent

Large Gardens

Bronze: Linen House, Tweed Green Silver: 15 Dukehaugh Gold: 9c Damdale

Street (a row of 3 or more attractive gardens)

Highly Commended: 15 – 21 March Street Bronze: 15 - 27 Connor Street Silver: 6-16 South Parks Gold: Rose Park

Secret Gardens

Highly Commended: 6 Provost Melrose Place Bronze: 4 Bonnington Road Silver: 33 Kingsway Gold: 5 The Loanings

Community Gardens

Bronze: The Glebe Community Garden, Innerleithen Road Silver: The Secret Garden, Deans Wynd Gold: Priorsford Primary School Garden

Business Displays

Bronze: Gustav’s Studio Silver: Peebles Nursing Home Gold: Central Bar

Finally just for fun there was a floral shirt competition. Mrs Helen Taylor picked out John Falla as the winner from a line-up of flowery shirted good sports!

The winners

Danny Shaw of the Central Bar with the Alasdair Stewart Trophy for the best Business Display

Jackson Hall and Jane Davidson, Community Garden Award

Mrs Jean McFarlane who won the Medium Garden trophy

Mrs Mandi Bain who was the Overall Winner

Rose Park Street Award

A room full of gardeners