THE Rotary Club of Okehampton has announced the winners of its first ever primary schools garden competition.

At their meeting at the Fountain Inn, the Rotary Club members handed out silver trophies for the best garden and the best vegetable plot and three certificates for the fattest carrot, the longest bean and the heaviest beetroot.

Rotarian Dave Potter said: ‘It was clear that the competition had been enjoyed by all and that the results of the efforts of the children and teachers and parents were rewarding on many levels.’

Three schools entered in the first year of the competition and all three took away prizes, along with the Country Lanes Garden Centre sponsors prizes of a cheque for £20 for each participating school and gardening implements, which were awarded by Jane Metcalfe, owner of Country Lanes.

The schools were each represented by two children and one teacher or parent.

Judging was carried out by members of the club using the Royal Horticultural Societies rules, including environmental sustainability criteria.

The winners were: Okehampton Primary School, teacher Sarah Caunter and pupils Evie Wood and Arthur Hicks; Hatherleigh Primary School, teacher Sarah Woolacott and pupils Max Dorain and Amelie Campbell; Lydford Primary School, teacher Barbara Earnshaw, parent Pip Gascoigne and pupils Max Williams and Thomas Watts.

The club plans to run the initiative again next year and is looking to include more schools from the local area.

Please contact Nils Westman rotary club environmental officer at [email protected] if your school would like to participate in 2017.