Brent in Bloom awards

Brent's green fingered brigade was honoured by the Mayor who presented this year's Brent in Bloom awards on Thursday 12 November.

Brent in Bloom is an annual competition that gives local people the opportunity to show off their gardening skills and aims to make the borough more attractive for residents and visitors alike. It has seven categories with marks awarded for colour, design, quality of plants and cleanliness. The majority of people who enter are amateur gardeners and entry to the competition is free.

The competition also acts as the first heat in the 'In Bloom' campaign, which leads to the regional heat, London in Bloom, and the national award, Britain in Bloom.

This year's efforts by residents to plant up their front gardens, window boxes, school grounds and businesses resulted in Brent receiving a prestigious Silver Gilt Award in the London in Bloom competition.

And the joint winner of the School Gardens category, Leopold Primary School in Harlesden, went on to win a Gold Award in London in Bloom.

Each year the council links up with the Royal Horticultural Society theme 'Local Roots' to promote community involvement in the local 'in Bloom' campaign.

The Neighbourhood category introduced last year. was such a success it was retained for this year's competition and has been won by the NW2 Residents Association on both occasions. The award encourages communities of all sizes to make positive and lasting changes by 'greening up' local streets, gardens and open green spaces in their neighbourhood.

Planting up the NW2 neighbourhood also led to people in Temple Road setting up Brent's latest Green Zone, the residents' environmental self-help action programme spreading across the borough.

"Brent in Bloom kick started environmental improvements in our area and that encouraged us in the resident's association to set up a Green Zone," said Marie Hancock, Temple Road Green Zone leader.

Brent Mayor, Cllr Jim O' Sullivan, said: "This year we asked everyone for greater efforts to show that Brent can be the best in London. Our gardens and green spaces, even our window boxes and hanging baskets make Brent a cleaner and greener place to live in."

Brent in Bloom 2009 - list of winners

Neighbourhood Award
1st Prize - NW2 Residents Association
2nd Prize - Roe Green Village Residents Association

Front Garden - Seasonal Planting
1st Prize: Edward Murphy, Wembley
Joint 2nd Prize - Mr Conybeare, Alperton, and John Quinn, Cricklewood
3rd Prize: Lena Jefferies, North Wembley

Front Garden - Permanent Planting
1st Prize: John Philippou, Barn Hill
2nd Prize: Robert Smith, Wembley
3rd Prize: Edward Murphy, Wembley

Container Planting
1st Prize: John McMahon, Wembley
2nd Prize: Carol Nichols, Willesden
3rd Prize: Patrick Rock, Cricklewood

School Garden
Joint 1st Prize - Preston Park Primary School, Leopold Primary School, Harlesden.
2nd Prize: Newfield Primary School, Harlesden

Outstanding Achievement Award
John Quinn, Cricklewood
Margaret O Sullivan, Cricklewood
Lena Jefferies, North Wembley

Business/Public Premises
1st Prize: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir -Neasden
2nd Prize: the Corrib Rest, Salsbury Road
3rd Prize: The Ox and Gate, Oxgate Lane

There were no Shared Housing entries this year.