Park Home Gardener of the Year 2024 Announced
Meet June and Phillip Davison, Park Home Gardeners of the Year 2024. Quickmove has announced the winner of their park home gardening competition for 2024, sponsored by Towergate Insurance.
About this incredible park home garden
After driving through the entrance of Dales View Park near Barnoldswick in Lancashire you look back at a terrific view of the Yorkshire Dales.
June and Phillip reside at the top of the park with their friendly dog, Lexi and have been married for 31 years. Stuart from Quickmove and Gill of park owner EKOS joined them on their decking while June began their story…
“We moved to the park in 1999 and this was just trees and rocks. After the conservatory was added, Phillip got to work laying the patio, building a deck and digging a 6 feet hole for the Koi pond. Phillip has done all the landscaping while I do the gardening.
It looks like it might be a lot of work but actually its mainly maintenance like pruning and dead-heading as most plants come every year.”
June says she loves her garden and you can see why, from the relaxing deck area with colourful pots and tubs to the bank of perennials, enormous Gunnera and ivy that stretches up the top of the hill.
“We brought a tiny Gunnera cutting from Cornwall in 2000. They grow to a huge size and you can see them all over the park now!”
Pictured: The Davisons receive their prize and trophy in their glorious park home garden
We were thrilled to be given a guided tour and present the trophy along with Gill from park owner EKOS.
June says “Spending time in the garden is very enjoyable work. We’re delighted to be awarded the Park home gardener of the year trophy from Quickmove.”
A sanctuary for wildlife
Phillip gave us a tour of the garden including his elaborate water circulation system that starts as a gentle stream amongst lillies some 30 feet up the hill and culminates in a waterfall ‘wall’ to keep the pond aerated and the Koi healthy.
His handywork is everywhere to see, including his most recent addition of a fire and chimney next to his relaxing hammock. Ex-farmer Phillip is proud of their secret garden, saying “Very few people know what we have! Unless you come through the gate you wouldn’t know there’s a garden like this here.”
Other notable features include a hillside patio positioned on a vantage point high above the park to enjoy the morning sunshine. It also houses a dovecote where doves sometimes nest three times a year. The garden is a sanctuary for wildlife, including a regular owl visitor who keeps watch over the fish.
One clever trick to make the garden look larger is June’s clever placement of mirrors on a fence in their patio dining area. Of course, these large mirrors are in fact bedroom wardrobe doors, re-purposed and installed by Phillip.
Congratulations to our Category Winners
The entries to our park home gardening competition demonstrate how a compact outdoor space can still bring pleasure and fulfilment for green-fingered enthusiasts, with room for luscious flower beds, patios, decking, hanging baskets, pots and ponds!
Scroll through the photos submitted by our category winners and highly commended gardeners below.
BEST BORDER: Chris Merryfield, Berkshire
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Martin Duffy, Evergreen Park
BEST BASKETS & TUBS: Anne Fleming, Co. Durham
BEST PATIO/DECKING: Mr And Mrs Davison, Lancs
BEST ORNAMENTAL: Claire Drewett, Dorset
What did our panel of judges say?
“Towergate are really pleased to be working with Quickmove Properties as proud sponsors of the Gardener of the Year 2024 campaign.
It has been great to see so much effort and creativity from all the residents, not only with flowers but ornaments and unique patio areas. The array of colours from the gardens are beautiful and create such a community feel”.
Elisa Hadland, Towergate Insurance
“I was so impressed by the standard of this year’s entrants, but June Davison’s garden at Dales view Park stood out. Her thoughtful use of layering, planting combinations, and clever use of perennials showed a deep understanding of design and horticulture.
The structure and balance in her garden, especially her borders, were exceptional. June’s design wouldn’t look out of place at Chelsea if there were a category for park homes.”
Justin Allitt, Sell My Group
“It was fiendishly difficult to pick an Overall Winner as the standard of all of the entries was simply first-class. However, June thoroughly deserves this prestigious accolade. There are so many interesting and original elements to June’s beautifully maintained garden – it’s clear that she has a real passion and enthusiasm for her hobby.
“Well done June and well done to everybody who entered and shared their extraordinary creations with the judges!”
Alex Melvin, editor of Park Home & Holiday Living Magazine
“We were so impressed by the entries to our park home gardening competition. It was a difficult task for the judges but June and Phillip are worthy winners.
We were thrilled to be given a guided tour and present the trophy along with Gill from park owner EKOS. Their unique creation shows whats possible, even when limited by space.”
Stuart Bell, Marketing Director at Quickmove
More Park Home Gardener of the Year competition entries below…
