Our green-fingered residents have had their gardening skills recognised in Barnet Homes’ annual gardening competition, Finest Flowers. This time younger residents got the gardening bug, too.

The judging panel was made up of Barnet Homes’ staff and residents who had a tough time with this year’s gardening entrants as the standards were very high.

Local resident Elizabeth Fitzgerald started gardening just outside the newly refurbished West Hendon Community Centre and found some budding young gardeners showed interest in joining in.

Thus the West Hendon Community Garden Club was born! Elizabeth says there aren’t a set number of children in the gardening club: “The children come in and out and do gardening bits when they can. But it is marvellous to see young people getting stuck into gardening and making the community look so inviting.”

The Barnet Group’s Chief Executive Tracey Lees said: “Barnet Homes started the Finest Flowers competition in 2007 and it’s become increasingly popular with residents and the gardening standards get higher every year. The competition gives residents a real platform to take pride in their homes and the surrounding areas. It makes a real difference to our communities and Barnet Homes appreciates the efforts that our residents make to create these beautiful gardens. Thanks and well done to all our residents who entered this summer.”

Tracey continued: “I am also thrilled that the gardening competition has encouraged a new generation of younger gardeners who will be part of shaping the community in the future.”

The winners

The gardening competition, in its seventh year, is run by Barnet Homes and aims to encourage all its residents to take pride in their community. The judging panel have announced the individuals and gardening clubs in each of the six categories.

  • Best balcony/display container – Little Larkin’s Garden Club, EN5
  • Best front/back garden – Danielle Cullinane – Dollis Valley, EN5
  • Best new gardeners – West Hendon community garden club, NW9
  • Best communal garden – Ela Klein – Wimbush House, N12
  • Best Sheltered Scheme – Christchurch garden club, EN5
  • Geoff Bedingfield award – John Davies – Mayes Lane, EN5

Any residents who are keen to get involved in a gardening club, email Deborah.beckford@barnethomes.org