DEBBIE SMITH, of Archway Drive, Dartmouth, writes:

Dartmouth in Bloom competitors have entries made at flower nurseries. We spent hundreds of pounds and just as many hours last year getting our small garden looking nice and colourful for our, and our neighbour's, viewing pleasure.

We decided that it looked so nice that we would enter it into Dartmouth in Bloom and see what happened. We never really expected anything to happen as there are so many beautiful flowering arrangements and gardens in the town.

To our utter delight, we came third in the hidden gardens floral display category and were shocked and surprised but very pleased to have had such recognition.

We have since found out that most guesthouses and public houses enter the competition and do rather well every year. That in itself is not an issue, but when we found out that the baskets and troughs etc were made entirely at Bugford Nursery we were appalled to say the least. They even had the workers from the nursery fit their baskets into the required position and affix the watering system as well. If Bugford Nurseries were awarded the prize plaque for their flower arrangements etc, wherever they were situated, then that would be more than acceptable; they do not even get a cursory mention – it's an utter disgrace and totally unfair.

We, and many others, put hours of work and love and care into our flowers and if we are lucky enough to get noticed by the prestigious competiton then that is fantastic, but to know that others are using a business to arrange and affix their flowers and then taking the credit for them personally is totally disheartening in the least.

I firmly believe that Bugford Nursery should be the place in receipt of any awards given for their flowers, after all, they have done al of the work.

All most of the guest house owners and pub landlords do is turn on the tap to their watering system – that's unless they have it on a timer, in which case they do not even have to worry about forgetting to water the plants!

This needs to be sorted out and the recognition awarded to those who have done the work, not those who do nothing year in year out, but turn up at the Guildhall and accept the plaque/certificate happily knowing full well they have done nothing at all to deserve it.