The competition, which was launched at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre at Monkton Heathfield last Saturday (February 6), is designed to promote Taunton Thespians’ latest show ‘Cold Comfort Farm’.

Norma Moore, General Manager of the family-run garden centre, said: “We are asking people to come up with ideas for what Aunt Ada saw in the woodshed. Taunton Thespians contacted us and asked if we could help them run a competition to publicise their latest production. We were more than happy to lend a hand and have donated a shed worth more than £250 to their cause.

“We set up a woodshed dressed with traditional 1920s farm equipment on Saturday, February 6 and were joined by cast members of Cold Comfort Farm from 11.30am until 1.30pm to launch the competition with our customers.

“We’re inviting people of all ages to get their thinking caps on and come up with suggestions as to exactly what Aunt Ada saw in the woodshed all those years ago. Anyone wishing to enter can pick up a form from the garden centre, which they will then need to fill in and return to the reception by Friday, March 5. The most imaginative entry will be announced as the winner on Sunday, March 7 and will receive an Apex Compact shed and two complimentary tickets to watch the play on a date of their choosing.”

Taunton Thespians has been providing live theatre for the people of Taunton and the surrounding area since 1927. The group will be performing Cold Comfort Farm in the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre from Tuesday, March 9 until Saturday, March 13.

Cold Comfort Farm is a satirical novel by Stella Gibbons that was first published in 1932. It parodies the romanticised accounts of rural life popular at the time.

For more information about the competition, please drop in to Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre, which is located just off the A38 at Monkton Heathfield between Bridgwater and Taunton, or call 01823 412381.

Photograph caption: (Back left) Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre’s Patio Manager, Chris Hawkins and (back right) Plant Manager at the garden centre, Andrew Pitman, launch the garden centre’s Cold Comfort Farm Competition with Taunton Thespians.