Gardeners across Barnet have been awarded prizes in an annual gardening competition run by Barnet Homes as reward for bringing summer blooms to the borough.

Barnet Homes Finest Flowers competition, introduced in 2007, aims to encourage all our residents to take pride in their homes and neighbourhoods and to reward those whose gardening skills make an attractive local difference.

The judging panel, made up of both Barnet Homes staff and residents, visited every garden entered into this summer’s competition. Afterwards they declared the winning individuals and gardening clubs for the six 2012 categories as:

  • Best front garden – John Barrett of Crispin Road, HA8
  • Best balcony – Gary Hayes of Coleswood, N20
  • Best sheltered garden – Ela Klein of Wimbush House, N12
  • Best communal garden – Hamid Gordiz of Sheldon Court, EN5
  • Geoff Bedingfield award – Tony Gowers of St.John’s Close, N20
  • Best new gardener – Patrick O’Connor of Arundel Gardens, N12

The winners will be presented with garden centre vouchers during a prize giving ceremony at Barnet Homes’ annual general meeting on 27 November.

On hearing he had won best communal garden, Hamid Gordiz of Sheldon Court, EN5 said: “I’m very pleased, I put in a lot of hard work and spent money, but I love gardening and doing it for my neighbours. It’s nice to have the recognition for all my hard work.”

Patrick O’Connor of Arundel Gardens, N12 was also delighted with his best new garden award and said: “I’m over the moon about winning this gardening award. I’m so glad my neighbours persuaded me to enter this time.”

Barnet Homes Chief Executive Tracey Lees said: “Our gardening competition is proving increasingly popular with residents and the standard, which seems to get higher every year, makes a superb impact on our estates and homes. We try hard to maintain our neighbourhoods to a high standard, but input from our residents makes an important difference.

“I’d like to congratulate everyone who entered this summer, especially after the adverse weather gardeners will have experienced in the run up. Well done!”

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

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 can contact Deborah Beckford on 020 8359 5307 or email Deborah.beckford@barnethomes.org.