Erewash Blooms Again!

Do you pride yourself on having a bloomin' marvellous garden, hanging basket or allotment?

The competition is part of the Pride in Erewash initiative and the aim is to help make Erewash a brighter and more beautiful place to live and work.

The Erewash in Bloom Gardening Competition 2008 will be launched on the following dates:

Ilkeston - 29 May between 10am and 2pm (Bath Street outside McDonalds)

Long Eaton - 30 May between 10am and 2pm (Old Market Place adjacent to The Corner Pin)

This years competition is sponsored by Three Valleys Housing. Three Valleys is one of the largest housing associations in Derbyshire. They manage over 5,200 houses, flats, bungalows and bedsits across the Erewash area.  Further information on Three Valleys Housing can be found at www.threevalleyshousing.com/

Kevin Lowry, Chief Executive of Three Valleys Housing said "Three Valleys Housing are delighted to be sponsoring the Erewash in Bloom Gardening Competition 2008. We think it is really important that this event involves the whole community, especially youngsters who have the challenge of growing the tallest sunflower.”

Download Leaflet and Entry Form

2007 Winners   

The winners of the 2007 Erewash in Bloom Gardening Competition, which has seen entries double since 2005, were announced at a special awards presentation on Thursday 20 September 2007.

Erewash in Bloom aims to encourage individuals, communities, schools and businesses to take pride in their environment through gardening and horticulture. The competition is run as part of the successful Pride in Erewash campaign, which aims to promote greater community cohesion, improve the local environment and encourage residents to participate in community events.

The Erewash in Bloom awards presentation was attended by competition finalists, members and officers of the Council, as well as representatives from the competition’s sponsor, Trowell Garden Centre. The Mayor of Erewash, Cllr Mrs Eileen Knight, and David Henshaw, of Trowell Garden Centre, handed out the prizes.

The 2007 winners are revealed below:

Best School Project:

Joint 1st Prize - Draycott Primary School, Draycott
Joint 1st Prize - Parklands Infant & Nursery School, Long Eaton

Joint 2nd Prize - Ashbrook Infant & Nursery School, Borrowash
Joint 2nd Prize - Granby Junior School, Ilkeston

Joint 3rd Prize - Brackenfield School, Long Eaton
Joint 3rd Prize - Chaucer Infant School, Ilkeston

Best Allotment Site:

1st Prize - Far Lane Allotment Assocation, Ockbrook
2nd Prize - Wilsthorpe Road Allotment Assn, Long Eaton
3rd Prize - Longfield Lane Allotments, Ilkeston

Best Pub, Restaurant or Hotel:

1st Prize - Carpenters Arms, Dale Abbey
2nd Prize - The Royal Oak, Ockbrook
3rd Prize - The Bulls Head, Ilkeston

Best Business & Commercial Premises:

1st Prize - Victoria Court Residential Home, Ilkeston
2nd Prize - Bramble Lodge Residential Home, West Hallam
Joint 3rd Prize - Alexandra Nursing Home, long Eaton
Joint 3rd Prize - Cartwright Plastics, Ilkeston

Tallest Sunflower Competition (Under 16’s):

1st Prize - Joshua Horsley, Long Eaton (320cm)
2nd Prize - Chaucer Infant School, Ilkeston (308cm)
3rd Prize - Stephanie Carver, Sawley (285cm)

Best Hanging Baskets & Planters:

1st Prize - Steven & Ann Ryles, Eskdale Close, Long Eaton
2nd Prize - Mr & Mrs Seagrave, Heanor Road, Ilkeston
3rd Prize - Mr & Mrs R K Cook, Chestnut Grove, Sandiacre

Best Wildlife & Environmental Garden:

1st Prize - Mr & Mrs Hancock, Belper Road, Stanley Common
2nd Prize - Mr & Mrs Hobby, Highfield Drive, Kirk Hallam
3rd Prize - Maria Coleman, Lakeside Avenue, Sawley

Best Front Garden:

1st Prize - Mr & Mrs B A Pinfield, Vanguard Road, Long Eaton
2nd Prize - Mr & Mrs G Seagrave, Heanor Road, Ilkeston
3rd Prize - Mr Ralph Howard, St Norbert Drive, Kirk Hallam

Best Rear Garden (Small):

1st Prize - Steven & Ann Ryles, Eskdale Close, Long Eaton
2nd Prize - Mr & Mrs E Rudd, Lord Haddon Road, Ilkeston
3rd Prize - Paul Corthorn, Highgate Drive, Shipley View

Best Rear Garden (Medium-Large):

1st Prize - Mr & Mrs G Seagrave, Heanor Road, Ilkeston
2nd Prize - Mr & Mrs Carver, Plant Lane, Sawley
3rd Prize - Mr & Mrs R K Cook, Chestnut Grove, Sandiacre

The 2007 competition was boosted thanks to sponsorship and support from Trowell Garden Centre. Prize winners benefited from almost £1,000 worth of vouchers for the popular local garden centre.

David Henshaw, owner of Trowell Garden Centre, said: “We are both pleased and honoured to be sponsoring this year’s competition. We are always searching for new initiatives to encourage the gardeners of today and the future, and we believe that this competition is an ideal opportunity to do so.”

Councillor Robert Parkinson, Lead Member for the Environment at Erewash Borough Council, said: “There has again been a fantastic response to this year’s Erewash in Bloom with another increase in entries on last year’s already fantastic rise, all of which have been a high standard.

“Judging the competition has been tough, but we believe we have found the deserved winners. I hope all our winners enjoy their prizes and I would encourage all those who didn’t make it this year to get pruning, mowing and digging to get their gardens ready for the competition in 2008.”

Anyone wanting more information on the 2008 competition can contact the Council's Green Space Team on 0845 9072244 or email parks@erewash.gov.uk