Green-fingered tenants bring colour to communities
Green-fingered council tenants and leaseholders across the city came up roses at the annual Birmingham in Bloom awards ceremony at the Council House last night (Tuesday 21 October).
Around 50 district winners and their guests attended the ceremony in the Banqueting Suite. City-wide winners in each category received a trophy, cash prize and gardening tools from the city’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Shafique Shah in recognition for the skill and pride they’ve displayed in their homes, gardens and neighbourhoods.
Amongst this year’s winners was keen gardener Hilary Jones from Yardley who scored a hat trick with best communal garden for the third successive year.
Birmingham’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Shafique Shah, said: “Birmingham in Bloom’s winners show us all how we can bring colour and pride to our communities through patience and care.
“Whether they have tended traditional gardens, created eye catching pots and baskets or come together with neighbours to work on communal vegetable patches or gardens they should be an inspiration to people across the city.
“All our winners would, I am sure, have put their skills to good use without this competition but, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we are able to publicly reward our green fingered tenants and say thank you.â€
Citywide gold winners:
Best front garden                 Brian Hanson, Hodge Hill district (won this category last year too)
Best back garden                               Stella Adams, Edgbaston district
Best communal garden                    Hilary Jones, Yardley district (has won category for three successive years)
Best balcony, baskets and pots       Christopher and Catherine Felkin, Selly Oak district
Best vegetable containers                Debbie and Ronald Collins, Hodge Hill district
Best vegetable patch                         Irene Evans, Yardley district
Best community vegetable patch    Stuart Richings and the Rosemount Therapeutic Garden, Edgbaston district
Winners were chosen by staff from the council’s award winning parks team and the evening was hosted by BBC WM presenter Mollie Green and BBC gardening presenter Steve Brookes.
Sponsors of this year’s competition were Quadron, Cromwell and Service Birmingham and prizes were given to the lucky winners by Lord Mayor Cllr Shafique Shah.
For more pics see - https://www.flickr.com/photos/birminghamnewsroom/sets/72157648849031606/
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For more media information, pics and interviews, contact Debbie Harrison on 303 4476
