Monday September 11, 2023
For immediate release
Tenants awarded for their amazing gardens
in annual competition
Council tenants from across the borough are celebrating their awards following an annual garden competition.
The tenant garden competition, which is run by Charnwood Borough Council, saw 25 entries across seven different categories, and showcased gardens of all shapes and sizes.
There were also special recognition awards handed out to council tenants Mark Holland, for his tireless work on the communal gardens at Chapman Street in Loughborough, and to Lee Williams from Loughborough and Vera Zahan from Shepshed for making great use of small spaces using ornaments, flower pots and lots of colour.
This year the gardens were judged by councillors Jennifer Tillotson and Anne Gray, who were both astounded by the efforts of the tenants, and the standard across all the categories. They also praised the community spirit on display, as applicants showed off their gardens with pride, with many being collective efforts.
High street vouchers were awarded to the winners and runners-up during the event at Loughborough Town Hall on Thursday, September 7.
The awards were handed out by the Mayor of Charnwood, Councillor Margaret Smidowicz.
Councillor Colin Hamilton, lead member for public and private sector housing, also attended the event. He said: “The tenant garden competition is still going strong after over a decade, and long may it continue.
“It takes a great deal of time and effort and to make a garden great, so I applaud all the applicants for their work. They have done a fantastic job.
“Congratulations to all the award winners and thank you to everyone who entered the competition. We look forward to receiving your applications for 2024.”
The categories for this year’s competition included best house or flat, best window box, balcony and pots, best hanging baskets, best communal gardens, best sheltered court garden, best fruit and vegetable garden, best newcomer and greener garden, which promotes upcycling and sustainable gardening.
The winners for 2023 were:
House or Flat
Joint third place – Mr & Mrs Dews, Alex Wallace
Second place – Frederick Miles
First place – Mick Pipes
Window Box, Balcony & Pots
Joint third place – Valeria Gould & Freda Sharpe with Tracey Wilcox, Kevin Poole
Second place – Kevin Curtis
First place – Robert Kirk
Hanging Baskets
Third place – Robert Kirk
Second place – Sarah Cole
First place – June Letten
Communal Garden
Joint third place – June Bush (Knightthorpe Road, Loughborough), Carol Airey (Longcliffe Road, Shepshed)
Second place – Philip Howard and Gabriel Haynes (Freehold Street, Loughborough)
First place – Mr Barradell (The Mills, Quorn)
Sheltered Court Garden
Third place – Doreen Pryor (Riversdale Court, Birstall)
Second place – Joy Braker (St Pauls Court, Anstey)
First place – Fielding Court, Loughborough
Fruit and Vegetable
Joint third place – Robert Kirk, Philip Howard & Gabriel Haynes
Second place – Frederick Miles
First place – Mick Pipes
Best Newcomer
Third place – Sarah Solomon
Second place – Barbara Noble
First place – Mal Summerfield
Greener Garden
Third place – Sarah Solomon
Second place – Mal Summerfield
First place – Mr & Mrs Dews
Best year-round Garden
Third place – Georgina Gebski
Joint second place – Mr & Mrs Reeve, Debbie Newton
First place – Mick Pipes
Recognition Awards
Mark Holland
Lee Williams
Vera Zahan
ENDS