Proud Havering gardeners blossom as their efforts reap rewards

There is nothing common-or-garden about these floral wonders – winners of this year’s Havering In Bloom awards.

Over the past year green-fingered residents have been busy digging, planting, potting and growing incredible flower and vegetable displays in their gardens.

Pubs have been joining in with colourful hanging baskets.

The most popular category, Best Front Garden, was won by Parminder Singh of Harrier Close, Hornchurch.

The Best Hanging Basket award was given to two gardeners as the judges found them equally outstanding: Kathy McKelvey from Upminster and Ashley Brown from Romford.

The Best Community Garden was given to Douglas Road in Romford and the award for the Best Commercial Area was won by St Francis Hospice in Havering-Atte-Bower.

Corbets Tey School, in Harwood Hall Lane, Upminster, took The Best School Grounds award for the second year running.

The awards don’t just recognise beautiful flowers but also vegetables, with categories of Best Allotment Plot and Best Allotment Site.

This year the prizes went to David Willox for his plot at Norfolk Road Allotments, in Derby Avenue, Hornchurch and Peter Gibbs won the site award for Keats Avenue Allotments, Romford.

The Chambers Award has been awarded to Corbets Tey School, recognising the hard work and dedication of communities and social groups in the borough.

Expertise

The Discretionary award was given jointly to Nelmes Primary School in Wingletye Lane and Crownfield Infant School, in White Hart Lane, Romford.

It goes to those who judges feel have achieved recognition for the borough within the London in Bloom competition.

A competition to grow the tallest sunflower was won by Robert Spink, from Romford.

The awards night, last Friday in Town Hall Romford, was attended by the mayor, Cllr Melvin Wallace and cabinet member for environment, Cllr Barry Tebbutt.

Cllr Tebbutt said: “Havering residents love gardening and take enormous pride in their homes. It was an unusually hot spring and disappointing summer this year which may have tested the expertise of our gardeners but they came through with flying colours. Everyone deserves a pat on the back for their efforts to make the borough more beautiful.”