Blooming best in the Borough announced

Mayor of Mid & East Antrim, Cllr William McCaughey, has announced the winners and runners-up in Mid and East Antrim's In Bloom Community Competition.  The categories included: Best Kept Front Garden, Best Kept Front Container Garden, Best Kept Community Planting Scheme, Best Kept Allotment Garden, Best Kept Commercial Premises, and the Gardening for Wildlife Award.

Cllr McCaughey said: “Through Councils ‘In Bloom’ campaign we encourage everyone in the Borough to think about their local environment and how flowers, plants and gardens can enhance it for people and wildlife. By actively supporting our ‘In Bloom’ campaign and competitions residents not only make their garden, school or business more attractive but can boost tourism and the economy in their local areas.

"Although it’s been another strange and difficult year for many of us, there has been a large rise in interest in gardening. With more people still staying at home, many have been spending more time outside in local green space and in gardens. This is great to see as gardening can have a positive impact on our mental and physical health. Gardening can improve cognitive functioning and emotional well-being; can reduce depression, anxiety, obesity and heart disease; increase life satisfaction, quality of life and sense of community; and support recovery from illness, reduce stress, blood pressure and muscle tension. As well as all this, blooming gardens are a delight to the senses for owners and passers-by alike, and bring some much needed cheer.

"I have been really impressed with the quality of entrants to the competition this year from all across the Borough. It has been a great opportunity for me to see the variety of horticultural talent we have here. The Borough is still in bloom despite a summer of mixed weather.

"Well done everyone and please keep up the great work."

The 2021 Mid and East Antrim In Bloom Community Competition winners and runners-up are as follows:

Best Kept Front Garden

Winner: Sarah Bandy, Islandmagee

Runner up: Leslie Spearman, Whitehead

Runner up: Claire Gillespie, Ballymena

Runner up: Tanya Tweed, Larne

Best Kept Front Container Garden

Winner: Jackie Wilson, Glenarm

Runner up: Philomena Corey, Carrickfergus

Runner up: Sheelagh McCool, Carrickfergus

Runner up: James McMurray, Whitehead

Best Community Planting Scheme

Winner: Tullagh Community Garden, Ballymena

Runner up: Island Community Garden, Islandmagee

Runner up: The Olive Tree Community Garden Eden, Carrickfergus

Best Kept Allotment Garden

Winner: Christine Gibson, Larne Allotment Gardens

Runner up: Sharon Thoburn, Eden Allotment Gardens

Runner up: Richard Plunkett, Greenisland Allotment Gardens

Best Kept Commercial Premises

Winner: Ballycairn House, Ballygally

Runner up: Steady Eddie, Larne

Runner up: Galgorm Care Home, Ballymena

Gardening for Wildlife Award

Winner: Irene McKay, Islandmagee

Runner up: Christine Harper, Carrickfergus

Runner up: Stephen Heron, Broughshane

Cllr McCaughey concluded: "I would also like to remind everyone that the Blooming Creative (Painting, Poetry and Sculpture) and the Best School Gardening Project Competitions remain open until 30 September.”

For more information and to keep up to date you can go to www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/inbloom