Tenants awarded for gardening talents in annual competition

A number of borough council tenants have been rewarded for their gardening talents in an annual competition

The competition, which is run by Charnwood Borough Council, saw a record number of beautiful gardens entered and highlighted the hard work and dedication that tenants put in.  

Overall there were 37 entrants in this year’s competition and the gardens were judged over two days by tenants Trish Edwardes, Tracey Riley and Sheila Breed.

The judges agreed that the standard has improved consistently year after year, and 2019 was the most competitive yet, aided by the mix of hot weather and rainfall we’ve experienced this summer.

The competition was split into six main categories, including two new categories for best newcomer and best fruit or vegetable garden. The traditional four categories – best hanging basket or balcony, best sheltered court garden, best communal garden and best individual house or flat garden – still remained.

The winners for 2019 were:

Best hanging basket or balcony 
First place: Mr Martin Beadle
Second place: Mr Kevin Poole
Third place: Mrs Lander & Mrs Jacobsen

Communal garden 
First place: The Mills, Quorn
Second place: Longcliffe Road Communal Garden, Shepshed
Third place: Chapman Street Gardening Association, Loughborough

Sheltered court garden
First place: Arnold Smith House, Shepshed
Second place: St Pauls Court, Syston
Third place: Fielding Court, Loughborough

House or flat garden 
First place: Mr Frederick Miles
Second place: Mr & Mrs Pipes
Third place: Mr & Mrs Kirk

Best newcomer 
First place: Mr Michael Taylor
Second place: Mr Trevor Moore
Third place: Mr & Mrs Mason

Fruit and vegetable garden  
First place: Ms Glenda Bennett
Second place: Mr Kevin Poole
Third place: Mr Edwin Fryer

High street vouchers were awarded to the winners and runners-up who were presented with their prizes by the lead member for housing, Councillor Paul Mercer, during an event at Loughborough Town Hall on Thursday, August 22.

Cllr Mercer said: “Year after year our tenants work so hard on their gardens, and this competition just highlights how much pride they have for their homes and the areas they live in.

Charnwood is a beautiful place, and one of the reasons for this are the wonderful gardens. It’s a pleasure to see that so many of them belong to our tenants. Congratulations to all the winners and to everybody who entered.”