KEEN gardeners Glenys and Edgar Crouchley have received a trophy to mark their success in a village competition.

Mr and Mrs Crouchley won Wincham’s Best Kept Garden competition, which was organised by Wincham Parish Council and featured 15 finalists.

They were presented with an engraved trophy by Cllr Kenton Barker at this week’s meeting of the parish council, and received £20 worth of garden centre vouchers.

Mr and Mrs Crouchley have lived in their home in Green Lane, Wincham, for 43 years, and were surprised and delighted that their front garden had been chosen for the prize by the judges.

“It is a mixture of shrubs and flowers, is on a bank, and there is a nice outlook from our lounge window,” said Mrs Crouchley.

“My husband has always been keen on gardening, and we have worked together.

“We had a note through to say we had been nominated for the award, but don’t know who put our names forward, and it was a very nice surprise to win.

“We will be keeping the cup on the telephone table in the hall.

“The garden is mainly shrubs, which you get a lot of colour from and are easier to keep on top of, and we also have heathers.”

Wincham parish councillor Debs May said the garden competition judges felt the Crouchleys’ garden had “an amazing wow factor”.

“It was very colourful with a lot of variety,” she said.

“The garden has been maintained to a very high standard and with thought for the environment too.

“All five judges said they were incredibly impressed with the standard of the final 15 gardens.

“The gardens they judged varied in size and style, and they were very impressed with the inventiveness of many of the gardens, with the use of trellis, planters and decorations.

“We would like to thank the residents of Wincham for nominating so many of their neighbours – it has made the return of this competition a real success.”

The Best Kept Garden contest will return in 2017, and next year will see a competition for the village’s best wildlife garden.