Dartmoor Prison and beautiful gardens would not normally be thought of as going together — but the prison has come second in a competition for the best-kept prison garden in England and Wales.
Staff and prisoners won national recognition for their efforts to bring a welcome splash of colour to their environment in the National Windlesham Trophy — a competition closely fought by all 130 prison establishments.
Dartmoor's governor, Graham Johnson, said there was 'real purpose' behind this recognition.
'Our gardens are hidden behind high walls but they represent months of effort by prisoners who are learning new skills and the value of hard work in the process,' he said.
Mr Johnson also paid tribute to Steve Ball, intructional officer, who directed the team of prisoner-gardeners in their efforts to win the trophy.
The competition was started in 1983 by the then chairman of the parole board, Lord Windlesham, who became increasingly aware on his visits to prisons of the therapeutic value of gardens maintained by the efforts of inmates.
Experts from the Royal Horticultural Society assessed Dartmoor's gardens for the competition and found them to be of a very high standard, resulting in their runner-up award.