Under the same strict conditions of the Eurovision Song Contest (well, nearly!) a team of judges gathered at PPR HQ to decide which Park deserved the title of Best Park in Europe.

The team carefully read through entries from Poland, France, Germany, Sweden and Italy and marked them against the same criteria that the other countries would be using to judge the UK’s very own Castle Park in Colchester.

Each country involved runs its own Best Park competition and the overall winners from each go forward to be judged against the other countries, and just like Eurovision, you can’t vote for your own country.

The judges included, long-term member of the judging team, gardening journalist and broadcaster, Martin Fish, Ann Bhatti from Derby City Council, Ian Small from the competition’s sponsors, Briggs & Stratton and Gemma Sharpe from PPR.

Unfortunately the UK park did not win the 2009 competition, the Swedish park which got the UK panel’s top vote went on to win – well done to Sofiero Castle and Gardens!
 

Photo: L-R - Gemma Sharpe, Ian Small, Ann Bhatti and Martin Fish.