Bloom awards winners declared

And the awards mark the 25th anniversary of Ripon in Bloom, which works closely with Harrogate Borough Council’s Parks service to enhance the floral and environmental aspects of the city for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors.

The winners, who were presented with their awards by Coun Pauline McHardy, were:

Gardens - Mrs Maureen Lowe, Kirkby Road; Containers - Mr Nethercoat, Skellfield Terrace; Streets - Skellfield Terrace; Commercial properties large - The Meads Residential Home; Commercial properties small - Lockwoods restaurant; Schools - Moorside Dale infants; Young gardeners - Zoe Ingham; Public Houses - The Lamb and Flag.

A Special Merit award was presented to Trixie Slade for her continued voluntary hands on environmental and gardening work to public spaces and parks throughout the community.

Ripon in Bloom carries out a number of community projects as well as running the gardens competition.

These include planting and maintaining floral containers and barrier baskets, maintaining Temple Gardens, Goose Common and Bedern Bank in the city, street and alleyway cleaning and litter picking.

In the coming year they are planning to take on a number of new projects, including tidying and re-planting a neglected area close to the centre of Ripon, adding a number of new barrier baskets to the railings near the bus station, and providing planted containers to a neglected area close to the library.

Chris Searle, chairman of Ripon in Bloom, said: “Ripon has twice been finalist in the Britain in Bloom competition but because Ripon in Bloom is made up of just a small number of committee members and volunteers we haven’t been able to enter the competition for the last few years.

“We’re therefore keen to hear from anyone who may be interested in assisting with the work of Ripon in Bloom – they will be made very welcome and the community will be a better place for their efforts.”

Anyone interested in helping Ripon in Bloom can e-mail chairman Chris Searle at [email protected]

* Send your news stories and pictures to: [email protected]