A woman has donated £1,000 to charity after winning first prize for the ‘prettiest rose’ at a St Albans garden centre.

Herts Advertiser: Maggie Philippson receives cheque for 1,000 for the Ayletts prettiest rose competition. Picture: Paul EdwardsMaggie Philippson receives cheque for 1,000 for the Ayletts prettiest rose competition. Picture: Paul Edwards (Image: Paul Edwards The Sun)

Maggie Philippson won the prize at Aylett Nurseries in St Albans and was presented with a cheque for £1,000 on Thursday, August 9.

Thirty garden centres throughout the UK took part in the contest, and the winner from each centre was entered into The Sun newspaper’s national competition and judged by a gardening team. The cheque presentation was attended by Peter Seabrook MBE, from Sun Gardening and Aylett Nurseries managing director Julie Aylett.

Maggie, who has been tending her tequila sunrise rose bush for 24 years, chose to donate her prize money to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.

Julie said: “We are absolutely delighted to present Maggie with a cheque for £1,000 and overwhelmed by her generosity in donating the money to a truly worthy charity.”

Herts Advertiser: Maggie Philippson receives cheque for 1,000 for the Ayletts prettiest rose competition. Picture: Paul EdwardsMaggie Philippson receives cheque for 1,000 for the Ayletts prettiest rose competition. Picture: Paul Edwards (Image: Paul Edwards The Sun)

Herts Advertiser: Maggie Philippson receives cheque for 1,000 for the Ayletts prettiest rose competition. Picture: Paul EdwardsMaggie Philippson receives cheque for 1,000 for the Ayletts prettiest rose competition. Picture: Paul Edwards (Image: Paul Edwards The Sun)