Blooming good show for North Solihull's gardeners

SCHOOLS, community groups and green-fingered residents were among those to receive awards at this year's Solihull Neighbourhoods in Bloom competition.
A clutch of winners from the north of the borough were named at the awards ceremony, which was held at the CTC Kingshurst Academy earlier this month.
The fact that Fordbridge Parish Council and Solihull Community Housing organise the contest in conjunction with Solihull Council means that North Solihull is always well represented among the entries.
But locals also did exceptionally well in the borough-wide categories, with Gladys Brewer, of Tulip Walk, Chelmsley Wood, receiving the prize for the prettiest front garden in all of Solihull.
It was also a proud night for Marston Green residents. The village's vibrant displays of flowers were ranked the third best in the borough, behind only Berkswell and Meriden.
Councillor Ken Hawkins, cabinet member for environment, housing and regeneration, said: "It’s great to reward people taking pride in their garden displays and long may it continue."

The full list of winners from the north of the borough were:

Schools (Silver Award winners):
Castle Bromwich Juniors, Marston Green Juniors and the Grace Academy.

Young Gardener:
237 Castle Bromwich Thursday Beavers

SCH Best Garden - Chelmsley Wood, Fordbridge and Marston Green:
1st – Merlie Barrett, Whitebeam Road
2nd Ann Robinson, Poplar Avenue
3rd – Carol Shelton, Clover Avenue

SCH Best Garden - Kingshurst, Smith’s Wood and Castle Bromwich:
1st – Jacqueline Matthews, Haselour Road
2nd – Sarah Walker, Laburnum Avenue
3rd – Ivan Dean, Dunton Road

SCH Disabled Garden:
1st – Grace Jones, Poplar Avenue
2nd – Ernest Howard, Coleshill Heath Road
3rd – Marcia Evans, Kelsull Croft

SCH Chair’s award for best display of geraniums:
2nd – Edith Wootton, Winchester Drive

SCH Champion Gardner:
Andrew Parkes, Laburnum Close

Disabled Gardener:
1st – D E Power, Moorend Avenue
2nd – P Smith, Pike Drive

Front Garden:
1st place, Gladys Brewer, Tulip Walk

Villages:
3rd place, Marston Green