A GARDEN lovingly created by a mother in memory of her daughter has won a special award from Britain in Bloom.

Sally Dunn’s Bere Alston garden created two years after she lost her daughter Holly to a brain tumour won an ’In Your Neighbourhood Award’ from the judges who also gave a Silver Gilt medal to the village as a whole for the second year running.

Friends and family members had always been so encouraging and complimentary of Sally’s work and so Helena Rogers, Sally’s mother, suggested Sally enter the ’In Your Neighbourhood’ category.

Sally was awarded the highest (’outstanding’) level and the judge was also very impressed by Sally’s extensive gardening knowledge.

After the second anniversary of Holly’s passing, in 2019, Sally cleared a large flowerbed situated at the back of the garden, filled it with new soil and inserted fourteen inital roses, a tribute to Holly, to ensure they surivived as they had initially been placed by woodland and weren’t getting enough sunlight. This officially marked the beginning of work on the garden, which Sally revamped from scratch.

Working unfaulteringly hard, full time for over six months in all weathers throughout the autumn and winter months (many days from 9am to 9pm) Sally was determined to finish the majority of the garden by March as new roses had to be planted to allow them time to flower.

In addition to the rose garden section (which has now amassed to house 60 roses), Sally also created more new flower beds, moved all the gravel from the paths, completely lifted the weed membrane, placed down new stepping stones and also has a greenhouse.

Helena spoke highly of her daughter Sally’s efforts. She said: ’Since before lockdown, Sally found the impetus to start work on the garden. Once she started, she felt compelled to keep going.

’The work hasn’t stopped though as Sally is always planning ahead for the changing seasons and is currently planting spring bulbs.’

Sally described her garden as ’therapy’ as this had been a huge focus for her since Holly’s passing: ’It’s an amazing hobby to have; it’s lovely to witness the changes as things blossom and bloom. It’s given me time on my own to process things and gradually given me a way to look to the future.’

Sally also values the learning element that comes with gardening and spends a great deal of time researching and compiling specialist information as she progresses, a process enhanced by networking with like-minded, creative gardeners online that she has secured great relationships with.

Sally has been touched by the recognition this award has given to her stellar efforts and has considered opening up the garden for the public to view and enjoy next year, with entry gained via a suggested charitable donation to Brain Tumour Research, Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre based at Derriford Hospital or St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth.