Gardeners across Barnet have been rewarded for their commitment towards brightening up the borough with prizes in an annual gardening competition run by social landlord Barnet Homes.

The Finest Flowers competition was introduced in 2007 by Barnet Homes, which manages 15,000 council properties across the borough, to encourage residents to take pride in their area and reward those who have gone the extra mile.

After visiting every garden display entered into this summer’s competition, the  judges declared the winning individuals and gardening clubs for the five categories as:

  • Ela Klein of Wimbush House, N12, who wins the Geoff Bedingfield outstanding gardening award
  • Rosemarie Crampton of Claremont Road, NW2, who wins the best front garden award
  • Sally Simmonds of Warner Close, NW9, who wins the best balcony or container display
  • Martin Jeffries of Coleswood, N20, who wins the best communal garden
  • the garden club residents of Christchurch Close, N12, who win the best sheltered home garden.

The judging panel, made up of both Barnet Homes staff and residents, also awarded a new sixth prize for the most innovative new garden. This went to joint winners – residents’ groups which tend Granville Road Community Garden, NW2 and Drummond House’s communal garden, N2.

The winners will be presented with garden centre vouchers during a prize giving ceremony at Barnet Homes’ annual general meeting on 29 November.

On hearing the news of her award for the best front garden, Rosemarie Crampton said:”That’s wonderful. I’m so pleased I’ve won something for my own garden. I really love it and people are always coming to have a look at it and often take photos to send all over the world.

“I grow most of my flowering plants from seed in my greenhouse every year and take cuttings or rescuing plants as well. I’ve got a beautiful blue buddleia that I found growing in a crack in a neighbour’s driveway which is now thriving in my garden.”

Barnet Homes Director of Operations Derek Rust, one of the judges for the competition, said: “Selecting the winners for this year’s Finest Flowers competition was tough but inspiring.

“Some residents were really innovative and we noticed that it’s infectious. Once one resident starts to garden, it seems to encourage their neighbours too. This is the Big Society in a real sense and has created genuinely superb standards and great settings for our properties.”

The competition is just one way Barnet Homes encourages residents to care for the environment and brighten up their neighbourhoods.

This summer Barnet Homes will be working with residents at two estates – West Hendon (NW9) and Dollis Valley (EN5) – to give these neighbourhoods a makeover in its annual ‘Love where you live’ campaign.

Staff from all parts of the company will be carrying out gardening, painting and other jobs with residents in a one-day blitz on each estate, followed by children’s entertainment, a barbecue and information for residents about its services.

Barnet Homes also runs a gardening club, through which more than 50 residents have taken the opportunity to meet other people and get creative at gardens across the borough.

The club is open to all residents who do not have gardens of their own, and Barnet Homes offers training, support and practical help with developing gardening skills.

Anyone who would like to join the club, please contact us.