Bloomin’ brilliant colours across the borough have once again earned Islington a silver prize in this year’s 'London in Bloom' competition.<br><br>The award was just one of the presentations made for London in Bloom and Islington in Bloom by Islington Mayor, Jonathan Dearth, at the Town Hall on 21 September.<br><br>As well as the overall silver accolade – which highlights Islington’s consistency following their silver in 2004 – three category prizes were awarded to local gardens for London in Bloom.<br><br>Whittington Park won a third prize for the ‘permanent planting’ award, Malvern Terrace received a second place in the ‘residential’ category and Pollard Thomas Edwards won a first prize for ‘commercial premises’.<br><br>Both competitions aim to reward the gardening efforts of residents, schools and businesses in making Islington and London a greener, more attractive place in which to live and work.<br><br>More than 90 ‘blooming sites’ were judged for Islington in Bloom in two rounds over June, by the expert eyes of the Islington Gardeners and officers from Islington Council’s greenspace and leisure division.<br><br>The London in Bloom judges, who visited the borough in July, were also shown Islington in Bloom sites of exceptional standard and it is from these that they choose their category winners.<br><br>This year’s Islington in Bloom competition was boosted by a further two categories – Best Wildlife entry and Best Forgotten Corner – to add to the established categories of Best School Entry, Community Garden, Front Garden, Container Garden, Residential, Business and Best Bloomin’ Pub. <br><br>Executive member for sustainability, Cllr Bridget Fox, said:<br><br>"Beautiful gardens do more than just look good - they provide a haven for insects, birds and a host of other wildlife. <br><br>Congratulations to all the residents and businesses who took part this year. <br><br>Their efforts reflect a growing interest in environment and community in Islington and one that we are keen to encourage through our greenspace services.”<br><br><br><br>Notes to Editors:<br><br>The sponsors and winners of each category are as follows:<br><br>Prize: Best Forgotten Corners<br>Sponsor: Islington Gardeners<br>Winner: Hornsey Lane Planters – Winner of Prize – Jane and Michael de Sweit and Francis and Eva Wilkinson<br> (More than three years old) Corsica Street – Winner of Prize – Cynthia Locke<br><br>Prize: Best Wildlife Friendly<br>Sponsor: Islington Gardeners<br>Winner: 26 Regina Road - Mrs R.V. Irving<br><br>Prize: Best Residential<br>Sponsor: Caxton Kier Group<br>Winner: Grimthorpe House (Percival Estate, Agdon Street EC1V) – Julie Scorah<br><br>Prize: Best Container Garden<br>Sponsor: Arsenal<br>Winner: Flat 5, 20 Sunnyside Road - Surya Trabha<br><br>Prize: Best School Grounds<br>Sponsor: CEA@Islington<br>Winner: St Lukes Primary School<br><br>Prize: Best Allotment<br>Sponsor: ICSL<br>Winner: Quill Street Plot 12 - Dee Xanthos<br><br>Prize: Best Front Garden<br>Sponsor: Islington Gazette<br>Winner: 26 Regina Road – Mrs R.V. Irving<br><br>Prize: Best Community Garden<br>Sponsor: Glendale Grounds Management<br>Winner: Culpepper Community Garden – Winner of Trophy<br><br>Prize: Best Bloomin Pub<br>Sponsor: Camden Garden Centre<br>Winner: Hemingford Arms<br><br>Prize: Best Business Premises<br>Sponsor: Camden Garden Centre<br>Winner: Sofra Restaurant<br><br>Prize: Best New Entry<br>Sponsor: Camden Garden Centre<br>Winner: Flat 5, 20 Sunnyside Road - Surya Trabha<br><br>Award winners receive National Garden gift vouchers. Caxton Kier Group and ICSL also contributed to the costs of promoting the competition. <br><br>London in Bloom is a London-wide competition in which all 33 local authorities of Greater London are invited to participate. Winners in London may go on to compete nationally and internationally. For more information visit www.inbloom.org.uk<br><br>For further information please contact Islington in Bloom Coordinator, Catherine Perry of BTCV (British Trust Conservation Volunteers), on 07764 655724 or by email to c.perry@btcv.org.uk
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009