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Newcastle in Bloom
NEWCASTLE IN BLOOM Gardeners celebrated at 30th anniversary event
Winners of judges choice awards in the Newcastle Borough Councils annual gardening competitions were announced at a celebration event recently to mark 30 years of involvement in Britain in Bloom.
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A spokesman for the council said: An incredible space packed full of interesting features in Kidsgrove and a delightful, wildlifefriendly area in Clayton are officially the best residential gardens in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Maureen Wilson and Graham Green, and Donna Thorley, are the respective winners of Judges Choice Awards in the hotly-contested residential category of the Councils annual gardening competitions after equally impressing the judges with their outstanding horticultural work this summer.
The results of the councils popular contest an important part of the boroughs Heart of England in Bloom entry were announced at a celebration event recently held at the New Vic Theatre to applaud 30 years of success for Newcastleunder-Lyme in the countrys largest horticultural campaign.
The spokesman added: Wonderful spaces at every turn created with real love and thought including a sensational book display earned Maureen and Graham high praise from three horticultural experts alongside Donna whose mature garden boasts a range of perennial and annual planting, using a tremendous colour pallet, with beautifully manicured borders and lawns. Green-fingered residents across the borough were invited to submit digital entries for the first time this year following the pandemic. Rather than judges visiting peoples homes as usual, gardeners were asked to send up to five photographs highlighting aspects such as wonderful views of a front/rear garden, an outstanding feature, good practice or evidence of encouraging wildlife along with an optional short written summary. The judges awarded top marks to Sir Thomas Boughey Academy, Halmer End, in the schools category for successfully turning a previously disused area into a wildlife haven. The schools wild garden project, created by the science club during the pandemic, links to the science curriculum. Students have built bug hotels, bird habitats, feeders and a range of planters which they have filled with pollinator-friendly plants. Terry Lovatt, a long standing supporter of Newcastle in Bloom, received the Judges Choice Award in the allotments section for his ongoing efforts to maintain his plot at Basford Allotments to the highest standard. Its a well laid out haven bursting with beautiful ornamentals, lovely lupins, perfectly formed peonies and nice ferns framing the small pond. Not only did Newcastle-underLyme win a nineteenth consecutive gold award in the small city category of Heart of England in Bloom this year, it gained several discretionary awards: Horticultural excellence Queens Gardens, Newcastle; Environmental award Silverdale Community Country Park; Grounds maintenance award Newcastle town centre roundabouts and public art; Community achievement Silverdale Mining Memorial; Health and well-being Amanda Stevenson, Lisbon Court, Clayton. Because all portfolios were judged digitally, there is no category or overall winner this year. However, feedback from the boroughs campaign is very complimentary and full of praise for the work delivered during the pandemic. In the licensed premises/businesses contest, the Judges Choice Award went to the Old Hall, a 15th century garden in Madeley. A variety of mature shrubs and perennials adorn the grounds of the delightful hall along with a splendid garden room containing beautiful hydrangeas. The perennial borders are maturing nicely, with a good mix of material, and there are some lovely features including arbours, a vegetable patch and a good sized pond.
Donna Thorley's beautiful garden in Clayton
Meanwhile, Jean Stevenson another bloom veteran received recognition for vastly improving popular community gardens in Church Street and Vernon Avenue, Audley, by introducing new plants to the areas she meticulously maintains.
All 48 entrants were presented with certificates of appreciation in addition to bulbs and seeds while the six Judges Choice Award winners also received bespoke, ceramic plant labels made by event sponsors Black Star Ceramics from Baldwins Gate. Everyone watched a nostalgic presentation taking a look back at bloom photographs captured from 1991 onwards.
Councillor Jill Waring, Cabinet member for leisure, culture and heritage, said: I would like to thank everyone who took the time and effort to enter the councils gardening competitions, with special congratulations going to the winners of the Judges Choice Awards. They play an important part in the boroughs overall bloom campaign by bringing communities together, through their shared love of horticulture, to help make Newcastle-underLyme an even better place to live, work and visit. Weve had to do things slightly differently this time round, but its been great to start engaging with residents again after a year away due to lockdowns. The borough is home to many talented gardeners and its fantastic to see people enjoying their gardens more than ever during this unprecedented time. Its been another successful campaign and thats down to the hard work and dedication of our communities and staff teams. The Britain in Bloom judges are clearly happy that weve maintained the same high standards despite all the challenges the pandemic has brought which makes it all the more special. Its great to keep the borough up there among the leading lights of bloom, a proud reputation weve cultivated over the past 30 years. Its also lovely to be able to celebrate our collective achievements at the New Vic Theatre while marking our special anniversary. The boroughs Britain in Bloom campaign has evolved so much over the past three decades and weve achieved so much during that time heres to the next 30 years.
Terry Lovatt received the JudgesChoice Award in the allotments section Above: Maureen Wilson and Graham Green's garden in Kidsgrove e
