Borough's green-fingered residents are recognised

As the Mayor, Councillor Audrey Wales MBE, announced winners and runners-up of the last few categories of the Borough’s ‘In Bloom’ initiative, she encouraged everyone who lives in the borough to think about their local environment and how flowers, plants and gardens enhance it for people and wildlife.

“By actively supporting our ‘In Bloom’ campaign and competitions, residents have not only made their garden, schools and businesses more attractive, but have also assisted Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s entry to the Translink Ulster in Bloom Competition and the Britain in Bloom Competition,” she said.

Awards were announced for the Best Kept Community Planting Scheme; Best Kept Allotment Garden; Best Kept Commercial Premises and the Gardening for Wildlife Award.

“This year is the first year of the Gardening for Wildlife Award which celebrates those gardeners helping our biodiversity in the Borough,” Councillor Wales said, adding: “We have been really impressed with the quality and diversity of the entries to the competition this year.

“It has been an opportunity for me to see the wealth and variety of horticultural talent we have in our Borough,” said Councillor Wales who revealed the results as follows:

Best Kept Community Planting Scheme Winner: Ahoghill Patchwork Group, Ahoghill; Runner-Up: Dixon Park Residents Association, Larne; Runner-Up: Mill Brae Bloom, Larne.

Best Kept Allotment Garden Winner: Alan Rice, Larne; Runner-Up: Maggi Watson, Greenisland; Runner-Up: Robert McComb, Carrickfergus.

Best Kept Commercial Premises Winner: Willow Beauty, Ballymena; Runner-Up: Hillcrest Self Catering Cottage, Carrickfergus;

Runner-Up: Hairtopia, Whitehead.

Gardening for Wildlife Award Winner: Phil Allen, Carrickfergus; Runner-Up: Nicholas Davis, Magheramorne; Runner-Up: Ben Palmer, Greenisland.

Winners and runners-up will be invited to a special Mid and East Antrim In Bloom awards ceremony in October to receive their certificates and prizes.

A full list of all winners will soon be available online by logging on to www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/inbloom

Meanwhile, a number of the associated children’s competitions are still open - until September 30. These are, the Painting Competition (10 and under); Painting Competition (16 and under); Poetry Competition and the Best School Gardening Project Competition.