A Machynlleth community garden project presented the People’s Choice award for their summer photography competition last week.

Councillor Michael Williams presented the People’s Choice Gerddi Bro Ddyfi Gardens (GBDG) Summer Photography competition prize to winner Louise Smith last week.

Louise’s photograph of an Echinacea flower with a bee received the most votes from members of the general public.

All the winning photos from the main competition were displayed for voting in the Save the Children and Hospice shops in Machynlleth, online on GBDG’s website and Facebook page, and in the local newspapers.

Louise received a £10 gift voucher for Pen’rallt Gallery Bookshop and a photobook donated by Jean Napier MA.

Committee member Cllr Williams said: “Congratulations to Louise for her fantastic photo, which captured a lovely wildlife moment in the community gardens.”

Angela Paxton, senior volunteer coordinator of GBDG, said: “Well done Louise, and thank you to everyone who took part in our first photo competition, to all our generous local sponsors, and to all who voted in this ‘People’s Choice’ award.

“We have really enjoyed seeing all the brilliant photographs of the gardens by talented members of the public.”

Louise added: “Jean Napier’s photography session was a great introduction back into photography and Gerddi Bro Ddyfi gardens, such a lovely calm space to be in, was a perfect setting - everywhere you looked there was a great photo opportunity!

“I am thrilled to have won the People’s Choice award, it was totally unexpected. Thank you to all who voted and for the generous prizes.”

The judges for the competition were Jean Napier MA, professional photographer and lecturer, Geoff Young of the Pen’rallt Gallery Bookshop, and Kiran Ingham, photographer and film maker.

Gerddi Bro Ddyfi Gardens is a community managed garden in the Plas Estate, Machynlleth.

GBDG held a prize giving event for winners of the Summer Photography Competition on Thursday, 16 September, during which winners were awarded their prizes by local business owners and judges of the competition.

First prize for adults went to David Leppard, who received a £60 meal vouches from Charles Dark for the Wynnstay Hotel.

First prize for the under 18s went to Henry Brown, who received £60 from Mark Clive of local electrical company Bright Sparks. Second prize went to Siân Campion, winning a hose donated by Travis Perkins.

Highly commended winners were Louise Smith, who received a £10 voucher from Jonathan Gross from Dyfi Wholefoods, and Pat Leppard, who received a £10 voucher from Mair Tomos of Blodyn Tatws.