‘Green’ gardeners and children receive their prizes

Winners of the 2015 Greening Grey Britain gardening competition and ‘design a poster’ competition have been announced.

The talented winners were awarded their prizes at a ceremony attended by the Mayor of Bury, Councillor Stella Smith.

Supported by local businesses, the gardening competition was re-introduced six years ago to encourage residents, communities and schools to make use of their gardening skills to help celebrate Bury and Radcliffe in Bloom.

Judging of the gardens was carried out during August by officers from the parks and countryside service.

Entries were judged on:

• Overall design (colour, suitability and quality of plants, upkeep and ‘wow factor’);
• Wildlife (wildlife-friendly plants and features);
• Recycling (compost bins, imaginative/practical use and re-use of materials);
• Sustainability (water conservation/retention, use of permanent planting).

  For a discretionary award, all entries were also judged on whether a Greening Grey Britain theme had been incorporated. Greening Grey Britain is a theme owned by RHS Britain in Bloom which is all about transforming hard grey areas into living, planted places that enrich lives.

Councillor Tony Isherwood, cabinet member for the environment, said: “Congratulations to everyone who entered this year’s garden and ‘design a poster’ competitions. The standard of entries was again really high and the number of entries continues to grow.

“Many thanks to all the local businesses that supported these competitions by providing the prizes and attending the awards ceremony.”

Best private front garden, sponsored by The Rock, was won by Mr and Mrs Eastham of Stainton Road, Radcliffe, while Mr and Mrs Hamer of Humber Drive, Bury came second and Mr MacKay from Tottington Road, Bury was third. Runners-up were Kelly Haworth of Raymond Avenue, Bury, Marie McDonald of Spinney Drive, Bury and David Johnson of Haig Road, Bury.

Best street or community garden, sponsored by Summerseat Garden Centre, was won by Mr Bennett from Moorfield Retirement Living, Radcliffe. Runner-up was the Fusilier Court Garden Committee, Bolton Road, Bury

Best Commercial or Retail Display, sponsored by Wickes, was won by Sillett’s Funeral Service of Radcliffe.

The overall competition winner was Mr and Mrs Eastham who won vouchers donated by Wickes.

The discretionary award for the Greening Grey Britain theme was won by Iain MacKay and sponsored by Newbank Garden Centre.

In the ‘design a poster’ competition, children aged 4 to 16 were invited to explore their creative side and design a poster to promote the RHS Greening Grey Britain theme.

More than 130 entries were received, and designs created by 12 children were selected to put on display in town centre shops and local parks to help promote this year’s entries in RHS North West in Bloom. Each of the young artists won prizes donated by Tesco, Bury Recycling Team and Bury Council’s road safety team.

The winners were: Phoebe Shane (aged 11), Rifah Isa (12), Katie Thornton (11), Stephanie Woodall (11), Caitlyn Johnston (12), Noah Khawar (11), Georgina Standsfield (9), Oliver Booth (8), Lene Miller (10), Claudia Polacco (11), Ellie Cockcroft (11) and Holly MacKay (8).

The overall winner of the Design a Poster competition, sponsored by Bury Market, was Stephanie Woodall who attends St Gabriel’s RC High School in Bury.

To get involved with or to sponsor Bury or Radcliffe in Bloom, phone 0161 253 5266.

ENDS

Press release issued: 20 November 2015.

Picture: The competition sponsors and winners with the Mayor of Bury, Councillor Stella Smith, and the mayor’s consort Mr John Smith.