Solihull Neighbourhoods in Bloom 2016

Awards have been given out for Solihull’s annual gardening competition – Solihull Neighbourhoods in Bloom.

Back again for a fourth time, an awards ceremony to recognise the borough’s green-fingered gardening champions was held on Monday 3rd October at CTC Kingshurst Academy.

Over fifty awards were handed out to hopeful entrants from schools, villages and the commercial sector as well as individual residents.

Around one hundred people were in attendance at the award ceremony which was hosted by the Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Mike Robinson, who said: “This is a great competition that helps make the borough a truly beautiful place.

“Thank you to all the residents who have taken part and congratulations to all the winners!”

Councillor Ken Hawkins, Cabinet Member for Environment, Housing & Regeneration, said: “This is a brilliant event both for the local community and the environment; it really puts an emphasis onto our gardening skills, bringing some healthy competition into our communities.

“It’s great to reward people taking pride in their garden displays and long may it continue.”

The competition is run in conjunction with Fordbridge Town Council and Solihull Community Housing. This year the event was sponsored by Amey, Graham Facilities Management, Protec Engineering Services, Wyevale Garden Centres and Balfour Beatty who kindly offered their support by donating prizes for their sponsored categories.

Full List of Winners:

Schools

Gold – St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Merstone, Coppice & Cranmore.
Silver – Our Lady of the Wayside, Castle Bromwich Junior, St Alphege Junior, Marston Green Junior, Damson Wood, Grace Academy.
Bronze – Langley Primary, Our Lady of Compassion, CTC Kingshurst.

Young Gardener

237 Castle Bromwich Thursday Beavers

Retail and Commercial

1st – Blythe Waters
2nd – Queens Head Meriden

Planters & Hanging Baskets

1st – Mr J Douglas, Fen John Eaves Green Lane
2nd – Mr K Wilkes, Burman Road
3rd – Mr A Matthews, Station House Shirley

Solihull Community Housing Best Garden

Solihull

1st – Sylvia Bell – Hartley, Kixley Lane
2nd – Margaret Guest, Sandfield Close
3rd – John & Shelia Helas, Sandfield Close

Chemsley Wood, Fordbridge & Marston Green

1st – Merlie Barrett, Whitebeam Road
2nd Ann Robinson, Poplar Avenue
3rd – Carol Shelton, Clover Avenue

Kingshurst, Smith’s Wood & Castle Bromwich

1st – Jacqueline Matthews, Haselour Road
2nd – Sarah Walker, Laburnum Avenue
3rd – Ivan Dean, Dunton Road

SCH Disabled Garden

1st – Grace Jones, Poplar Avenue
2nd – Ernest Howard, Coleshill Heath Road
3rd – Marcia Evans, Kelsull Croft

SCH Chair’s award for best display of geraniums

1st – Win Palmer, Sandfield Close
2nd – Edith Wootton, Winchester Drive

SCH Champion Gardner

Andrew Parkes Laburnum Close

Community Area

1st – Marie Curie Hospice
2nd – Clopton Crescent
3rd – Redwood House

Disabled Gardener

1st – Mrs D E Power, Moorend Avenue
2nd – Mrs P Smith, Pike Drive
3rd – Mr J Stanley, Windmill Park

Front Garden

1st – Mrs Gladys Brewer, Tulip Walk
2nd – Mr Robert James, Bickenhill Park Road
3rd – Mr Frank Morris, St Helens Road

Villages

1st – Berkswell
2nd – Meriden
3rd – Marston Green

Photo: Mrs Power – 1st Prize – Disabled Gardener

Read more: http://www.solihull.gov.uk/news/ArtMID/820/ArticleID/1430/Solihull-Neighbours-in-Bloom-2016