THE winner of B&Q’s gardener of the year has been announced as a Bournemouth couple. 

Odette and Rob Warmley were crowned by the DIY store at a ceremony in their garden attended by four judges including influencer Annabelle Rogers, B&Q head of outdoor Mairi Devlin and award-winning garden designers Matt Childs and Humaira Ikram. 

The couple will receive a £10,000 cash prize, a £2,500 B&Q gift card and B&Q’s highly coveted ‘golden’ watering can.  

Along with spending their prize money on a pair of garden secateurs and a new garage door, Odette and Rob are also hoping to visit family in New Zealand.   

(Image: B&Q)

The couple has been working on their garden since 2008 and have transformed it from a simple and unimaginative area into a quirky and fun entertaining space – full of personal touches and detail inspired by their travels and family and friends. 

They’ve created different garden zones, there are two entertaining areas and a seating and outdoor kitchen area - which they’ve named the ‘chapel’. 

Odette and Rob’s garden stood out to the judges as a garden that is a place of joy, and one that was very much about them personally as well as a great space for entertaining.   

The judges were impressed by the structures and walls built from upcycled and repurposed materials, and the way that everywhere you look there’s something that catches your eye. 

(Image: B&Q)

Odette said: “We are so proud to have been crowned 2024 B&Q gardener of the year, and for all of our hard work on the garden to have been recognised in such an amazing way.  

“We can’t wait to share the news with all our family, neighbours and friends. We envisage many more parties taking place in the near future.” 

Mairi Devlin, B&Q head of outdoor, added: “Congratulations to our worthy winners. At B&Q, we celebrate gardens of all shapes and sizes, and Odette and Rob’s Garden is one-of-a-kind with its innovative and creative use of different entertaining zones.  

“We loved the use of colour throughout the garden, and the unique personal touches inspired by their life and travels which all add to the ambience of the space – perfect for entertaining.”