IT has been a real pleasure to visit and write about some of the best gardens in our town.

I genuinely left all of them thinking: ‘this is the best garden in Barnsley’, so I’m glad I did not have to make the final decision on the eventual winner.

From the very south of the borough to the north and most places inbetween I have seen creativity, dedication and some serious skill in a range of different gardens.

Plants have been in borders and beds, flowers have been in every colour of the palette and lawns have been fit enough to grace Wembley stadium.

Of course there could only be one winner and Gareth Creech was a worthy one.

His jungle garden wowed the judging panel and no doubt has the same effect on anyone else lucky enough to visit.

He may be modest about his knowledge but it’s clearly growing to the same level as his passion for the garden he has created.

Just a few hundred metres from the town centre you are transported to a land far away with plants native to South America, Australia and Asia somehow surviving and thriving in what has become a green marvel.

But gardens are there to be enjoyed and Gareth has ensured that is possible by building a tiki hut so he can admire his own handy work with the relaxing sound of running water adding further to the jungle effect.

It is a garden that everyone would enjoy spending time in and Gareth’s labour of love won the hearts of the judges too.

Credit must also go to runners-up Steffanie Prest and Jack Cooke who have both created wonderful gardens and made picking a winner incredibly difficult.

I have been to see gardens of completely different types and chatted with gardeners who have different philosophies and approaches.

It quickly became apparent to me that people garden for all manner of reasons.

Whereas some like a beautiful space to enjoy the ‘extra room in the house’ a garden provides, others like to provide for wildlife and some even do it to aid their mental health.

Ultimately a garden can cater for all of that and much more.

The youngest gardener I met was just 26 and then there were some still at it every day in their 80s.

They credit gardening with helping them to stay physically fit.

And through talking about their gardens, people open up to you in a way they might not under different circumstances.

That has allowed me the pleasure of being able to tell the stories of both the garden and the gardener.

Congratulations to all the contenders and thank you to everyone who voted.