Gardening contest honours Midlothian’s best outdoor spaces

A stunning DIY refurbishment of a weed-strewn back yard has landed the top prize in the council’s annual tenant’s garden competition.

Set up to honour Midlothian’s best outdoor spaces, the competition was won this year by resident Patryk, who built a semi-enclosed outdoor dining space and cooking area in the garden of his Woodburn council house.

Winner

Patryk was aware of the contest from the Midlothian Council website, and decided to push himself to finish an ongoing garden makeover so he could enter in 2025.

“I kind of knew that I was going to win, I don’t know why!” he said.

“I saw the competition last year, and I thought - I’m going to do it. So it was great that all the hard work finally paid off. It’s like the cherry on top of the cake.”

Grand design

The transformation took two and a half years, with all of the work done by Patryk himself. 

“We wanted to have enough space for the family to have a barbecue,” he explained. “Before, it was just weeds. There was an old garage, two sheds, and loads of different trees, so it took quite a lot of time.”

Up-cycled

The garden also boasts new fencing, custom-built planters filled with shrubs and flowers, a freshly-laid lawn, and a generous tool shed constructed using discarded pallets.

Continuing the up-cycled theme, the build also incorporates aged timber joists pulled from a Victorian building in Edinburgh, which Patryk - a plasterer - was able to rescue from being scrapped.

Inspirational

Dalkeith Councillor Margot Russell and Cabinet Member for Housing Councillor Stuart McKenzie (pictured, top) paid Patryk's winning garden a visit to award first prize.

Cllr McKenzie said: “I think Patryk’s garden is an inspiration. It shows what you can actually do with a bit of creativity and a lot of hard work. If Patryk ever wants to go into garden design, I think he could have a long, happy career!”

Encouraging

Cllr Russell added: “Thanks very much to Patryk for putting his name forward. I think he’s really done a brilliant job, with a lovely mix of colour. I think we want young people especially to take a pride in their gardens, so it’s encouraging for us to see such a beautiful space.”

Fresh look secures runner up spot

Second place was Mrs. Donald from Bonnyrigg, who gave her paved-over front and back gardens a fresh new look with turf and colourful potted plants.

Junior winner

Green-fingered pre-schooler Maisie Snedden was the winner in the Under 15s Best Sunflower category.

Three-year-old Maisie transferred a tiny seedling sown at nursery to a sunny spot in the garden of her grandparent’s house in Bonnyrigg where it flourished into the towering specimen pictured below. Well done Maisie!

Prizes

This year’s prizes were a voucher from Pentland Plants, with £25 for first place, £15 for second place, and £10 for the Under 15s winner. 

We’re sure all our wonderful winners will put their prizes to good use making their gardens look even better.

Back next year

Residents can look out for the return of Midlothian’s Tenant Garden competition in the spring with entries welcome from every kind of garden - big, small, modest or ambitious.

Could 2026 be your year?