Described by the judges as “a joy to visit and experience, with bags of character, atmosphere and terrific staff”, Brimsmore Gardens’ Christmas displays have scooped first prize in the Garden Centre Association’s national Christmas Competition.

Landing this highly coveted accolade for the very first time, the Yeovil-based garden centre received higher scores than any other competitor in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland during the judges’ unannounced visits earlier this month. 

Having been in the planning since January and consciously constructed behind closed doors during a single week in October, the immersive Christmas displays were devised and managed by The Gardens Group director, Louise Burks, and created using repurposed and recycled materials, all now adorned with hundreds of glass baubles, twinkly LED lights, recycled candles and soft toys made from recycled plastic. 

With the garden centre’s annual themes hotly anticipated by the local community, this year saw displays inspired by Aladdin’s Cave, Fairy Tales, an Enchanted Woodland and a Gingerbread Kitchen. Each of these areas and many more are full of decorations and sustainable gifts that have been sourced from small scale makers and fair-trade businesses, with the hope that they last a lifetime and are passed down through generations. 

Adam Wallis, manager of Brimsmore Gardens, commented: “We are over the moon to have won first prize in the Garden Centre Association’s annual Christmas Competition, having come so close in previous years. As with everything we do at Brimsmore Gardens, we are always looking to innovate and improve, so this award is a reflection of the team’s unwavering commitment to these principles. Sustainability has been central to our thoughts year-on-year and we’re very proud to have made such huge strides in making Christmas as kind on the planet as possible. We’ll take a moment to toast the team’s efforts, creativity and resourcefulness, then it’s back to work as we look forward to welcoming many more visitors into the displays before Christmas.” 

The Gardens Group’s Christmas displays are open to the public seven days a week until Christmas Eve, at Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil, Castle Gardens in Sherborne and Poundbury Gardens near Dorchester.