GREEN fingered winners of Magna West Somerset's gardening competition have received their prizes. In another successful year, the housing association's annual horticultural competition saw 18 entries contending for the three top prizes of £100. Judge and tenant representative Marian Moran said: "We saw a lot of very novel and innovative ideas among this year's entries. As well as seeing some 'old faces' in the competition it was great to see so many new faces. "However, we passed so many fantastic gardens while we were out that weren't entered. It would be nice to see more people enter especially as they've done the hard work anyway!" Second time winners of the large garden category were Bob and Pat Croucher with their son Dean. Judges felt this garden provided the same "mind blowing" standard as last year. Bob said: "Working the garden is a bit of a partnership. Dean does the flowers and shrubs, I stick to the vegetable plot and between the two of us we cut the lawns and hedges." Dean had used some of last year's prize money to create a new bed which he says is "a piece of American Savannah" - using tall grasses and other similar plants, he has recreated that desert feel in one part of the garden: "I like that style of planting," said Dean. "I've read a lot about in books and magazines from the Royal Horticultural Society. It's a natural style of planting and even looks good through the winter. "I only planted the bed this spring and am really pleased with the first season. Hopefully. it will look even better next year." Runner-up in this category was Lionel Nicholas, of Withycombe, who also won second place last year. His garden has the benefit of a sea view from a raised platform that has been built along with well established trees, archways and a flowering jasmine. One of the new faces to enter this year was Vera Routley, of Porlock, who took third place. Judges were impressed by her use of every inch of space, including a mature monkey puzzle tree and a water feature as well as a miniature garden created by one of her grandsons. In the small garden category. last year's runner up Tim Chilcott, from Minehead, scooped the first prize with a mountain of blooms in every colour imaginable along with a water feature showing off water lilies. Another garden that caught the judges' eyes was that of second prize winner John Phippen, of Minehead, in the small garden category, who had used some innovative ideas. Apart from a paved area with raised flower beds featuring lilies, he had added a television screen and speakers to pump music into the garden and an irrigation system that he had installed himself "We've got a lot of baskets and containers. I bought the irrigation system from the local DIY store. It's really practical because it waters the roots in that section of the soil and not the flowers, so it's better for the plants and saves water." Another new entry this year was third prize winning pair Bill Hopkins and Mandy Skuce, of Watchet. They have been in their home just over a year and have already transformed their garden using, among other things, antirrhinums and African marigolds. A display of colour provided by lobelia, marigolds, petunias, geraniums and busy lizzies, to name just a few, helped Mandy Irish, of Minehead, clinch the 'patios and containers' category. Mandy, who was last year's runner-up, and her husband had made good use of their front and back garden, even building the containers themselves. And a seating area at the rear had the theme from favourite children's nursery rhyme, 'The Owl and the Pussy Cat'. David Chidgey, of Stogursey, took second place in this popular category, followed closely by Jean Browne, of Carhampton. The communal garden category was won this year by Glenise Garland, of Williton. MORE PHOTOS IN THIS WEEK'S FREE PRESS