A Lancashire prison has won the coveted Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Windlesham Trophy for the best prison garden in England and Wales.
HMP Wymott, a category C facility in Ulnes Walton, Leyland, has 1,126 prisoners, 50 of whom work on the institution’s extensive gardens. HMP Wymott regained the award after an eight-year gap; it previously lifted the gardening trophy in 2008.
RHS President, Sir Nicholas Bacon, presented the trophy, a specially engraved Green Goddess fire bell, to HMP Wymott prisoners and staff during a special ceremony at the prison.
Lead RHS Judge Robert Haslam, who with fellow RHS judges Fiona Crumley and
John Wheatley assessed the five finalists - HMP Albany; HMP Parkhurst, HMP Eastwood Park and HMP Thourn Cross - praised HMP Wymott for presenting a scrupulously tidy series of gardens.
He added: 'The first impressions were excellent and the standard was maintained throughout the visit. A wide range of plants were used displaying evidence of thoroughly planned designs to create a range of feature gardens, each creating a real impact.'
HMP Wymott’s Acting Governor, Nicki Smith, said: “We are delighted to have been named winners of the 2016 Windlesham Trophy competition. The award reflects a lot of hard work by our staff and prisoners. We are committed to having a well presented sit,e which creates a positive backdrop for all the work we do and horticulture is a key part of this.'
HMP Albany came second in the competition with HMP Parkhurst, HMP Eastwood Park and HMP Thourn Cross completing the line-up.
Read more
The Windlesham Trophy
Find out more about the award and previous winners
