2009 was the fourth year in which we ran the competition in partnership with RNIB and this year's theme was growing food. The competition was open to anyone who has sight loss, wherever you garden, and whether you'd just started out or had years of experience.
We wanted to know how you have achieved what you do in the garden, the obstacles you've overcome and how gardening has helped you. Those who entered told us all about themselves, their garden, and the food they grew to eat and share.
This year's competition received the highest level of entries yet, attracting some of the nation's most talented gardeners.
The winners across the three competition categories this year were:
- Blind Gardener of the Year (over 18)
1st - Jeremy Scott, Uckfield, East Sussex
2nd - Caroline Wootton, Hucknall, Nottingham
3rd - Nicholas Wood, Sevenoaks, Kent
- Young Blind Gardener of the Year (under 18)
1st - Jack Barnes, aged 15, Hucknall, Nottingham
2nd - Alfie Powell, aged 12, Dover, Kent
3rd - Luke Demaine, aged 14, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Blind Gardening Club or Group of the Year
1st - Swale Pottage Group, Epsom, Surrey
2nd - Henshaws College, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
3rd - Sense East, Louth, Lincolnshire
A celebratory event was held on Tuesday 17 November 2009 in London, where all prize winners were presented with a host of generously donated gardening goodies.
The competition was run by the National Blind Gardeners' Club, a partnership project between Thrive and the Royal National Institute of the Blind People (RNIB).