News Article

 

NGS Norwich Garden In Top Five Best Gardens In Britain

Jon Kelf of the Jungle Garden in Norwich is extremely honoured to have his Norwich garden selected as one of the final five in the national competition to find “Britain’s Best Garden” with the Daily Mail.  Jon opens his garden once a year for the National Gardens Scheme in Norfolk who encouraged their garden owners to enter.

The five finalists have had pictures taken of their garden by award-winning horticultural photographer Andrea Jones. The pictures are displayed in a dedicated gallery in Mail Online Gardening and in a Daily Mail feature on the 25th July 2009. Readers will be able to vote for their favourite garden. The winner is selected by public vote between 25th July and the 7th August and announced on August 22nd. Each finalist will receive a specially commissioned plaque for their garden.

The Jungle Garden is a small town garden approximately twenty-six feet by sixty feet with five levels of decking surrounded by dense, lush exotic planting. It has over two hundred different and unusual types of plants including palms, bamboos, bananas, gingers, cannas and more.

Jon Kelf said “I was ecstatic when I found out I was in the top twelve, then also when I discovered I was in the top five. The Jungle Garden is the smallest garden finalist and the only one surrounding a new house. The others are in Shropshire, Hampshire, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.  I hope visitors who have enjoyed the garden will vote for it and it will encourage new visitors when the garden is open on Sunday 16th August”.

NGS County organiser Anthea Foster said “ The Norfolk NGS are delighted that the
Jungle Garden has reached the finals.  Appreciation must also be given to all the other Norfolk open gardens that entered.   There have been other city gardens in previous years but Jungle Garden is unusual with its small dimensions and layers of decking compared to a more formal garden.   It is rewarding in itself to have been chosen. The garden owners give so much time to opening, not just gardening but promoting their open days and providing visitors with a great day out while raising money for the worthwhile charities of the NGS.  It is not only a great accolade for Jon Kelf and the Jungle Garden but also for Norwich, Norfolk and the Norfolk National Gardens Scheme.

The NGS has 3600 gardens throughout England and Wales with nearly seventy in Norfolk that open for charity.  It is renown for its gardens of high quality, character and interest.  Last year’s competition winner was NGS “Windy Ridge” garden in Shropshire.  The winner is selected by public vote between 25th July and the 7th August and announced on August 22nd.  Each finalist will receive a specially commissioned plaque for their garden. The winner will receive a five day guided tour of Norfolk gardens staying at Titchwell Manor.  The tour features nearly all Norfolk National Gardens Scheme gardens.  A prize any gardener would enjoy.”