The HTA’s National Garden Gift Voucher Design a Christmas Card Competition attracted a record number of entries this year.

Around10,000 youngsters had put felt tip pen to paper to design their own image of Christmas by the time the competition,closed on 19 October.

HTA Marketing Manager Tony Stacey says an increasing number of schools are taking part. “We have managed to double the number of entries received this year compared to 2012 when only 5000 entries were received. Participating stores made excellent use of the school letter and press release templates provided in the marketing pack to drum up publicity and interest in their local communities.”

For the first time, the competition was featured in The Sun newspaper and championed by Peter Seabrook.

The winning designs were:

Public category: Sofia, age 9, entered via Phoebe’s Garden Centre in Catford, London. She will receive £150 of garden gifts and have her design used as a National Garden Gift Voucher Christmas card, – which will be on display in more than 2,000 outlets.

Schools category: Emily, age 10, from St James and St John CofE Primary School, Buckingham,  who wins £1000 National Garden Gift Vouchers for her school. Emily will also get to see her festive design printed and used.

Regional winners:

South East: Oliver, age 12, entered via Scotsdale Garden Centre, Cambridge

Midlands: Cameron, age 3, entered via Scotsdale Garden Centre, Cambridge

South West: Chloe, age 3, entered via South Downs Nurseries, Hassocks

Wales: Georgia, age 6, Ysgol y Ddwylan School, Carmarthenshire

North: Bethany, age 12, entered via Berwick Garden Centre

Scotland: Sabrina, age 9, from Aberdeen

Northern Ireland: Rishona, age 7, entered via Altnagelvin Garden Centre

Each regional winner will receive a £50 National Garden Gift Voucher.

The two winning designs will be available to National Garden Gift Voucher stockists as part of the Christmas voucher wallet range(order online at www.htamembers.co.uk or call 0118 930 2092).

2014 National Garden Gift Voucher generic Christmas POS materials will be delivered to stores next week.