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Val Anderson entered the ‘Britain in Bloom' residential gardens competition for the first time - and was declared the overall winner! Judges visited her garden in Highfield Avenue, May Bank, and were impressed by features including a woodland area that took 15 years to develop. Val, who also won a gold medal in the Newcastle Borough Council competition, has also created lush herbaceous planting areas in her extended garden. Shrubs there include the exotic Australian bottlebrush plant. Other gold medals were awarded to: Elizabeth Forster, of Moss Lane, Madeley; Allan Dale, of Parklands, Kidsgrove; Terry and Fiona Ferguson, of Hassam Parade, Wolstanton; Joanne Barnes, of Kendal Place, Clayton; Gordon and Gill Morris, of Newcastle Road, Madeley; Chris Bolton, of Stockwood Road, Clayton; Jan Ratcliffe, of King Street, Kidsgrove and Karon Hackney-Bourne, of Tilewright Close, Kidsgrove. Terry and Fiona Ferguson were top of the tree in the hanging baskets competition for the third year in a row. The green-fingered couple's garden boasts a huge array of giant hanging baskets complete with blooms including white and red surfinias and lobelia. Three other local gardeners have also struck gold in the baskets contest - Kevin Bell, of Bramble Lea, Madeley, Cynthia Jackson, of Ford Street, Silverdale and Joanne Barnes, of Kendal Place, Clayton. Victor in the licensed premises competition was The Mainwaring Arms, Whitmore, which features half-barrels full of red and pink pelargoniums, hanging baskets at the door and borders containing red, pink and blue blooms that edge the road. "The entries for this year's local competitions have been fantastic," said Cllr. Mary Maxfield, Borough Council Cabinet member responsible for ‘Britain in Bloom'. "As well as awarding a high number of ‘golds' we have presented gardeners from across the Borough with many silver and bronze awards." |
