Celeb landscaper Tommy Walsh VIP guest at Hackney in Bloom awards
Hackney has proven it packs some serious flower power after residents took home a cluster of prizes during the annual Hackney in Bloom competition.
The past year has seen green-fingered locals busy digging, planting, potting and growing fabulous pots, plots, gardens and borders.
The most popular category, Best Front Garden, was won by Roli Ross whose manicured front garden-scape impressed judges from Hackney Council’s Streetscene, while Brian Walker took gold in the Best Housing Estate Garden category.
St Joseph’s Hospice's mini Garden of Eden, in Mare Street, took home the Best Business Premises award, while Lee House Rehabilitation and Employment Centre dug to victory to win Best Community Project.
Emma Holland proved that living in a flat was no barrier to growing for gold. Her beautiful balcony blooms were voted number one in the Best Container Category.
Leading the way for future generations of gardeners were Lauriston School, in Rutland Road, which won the Best Food Growing Award, and Benthal Primary School, in Benthal Road, which took gold in the Young and Green-fingered category.
The Best Newcomer Award was jointly shared by Ann Brooks and Nina Weissman.
Special guest and celebrity landscaper Tommy Walsh gave all the nominees gardening tips and advice at the awards ceremony in Hackney Marshes Centre, in Homerton Road, on Thursday evening. Ex-Ground Force star
Tommy said: “It was a great evening for gardening enthusiasts in the greenest borough of inner London, my home town, Hackney! It is great to recognise both residents and officials who organise and support Hackney in Bloom every year.”
A huge congratulations to those who took part in this year’s Hackney in Bloom Awards - the standard of entrants this year was incredibly high. The awards not only recognise Hackney’s top gardeners who help make the borough a bright and beautiful place to be but they also encourage sustainable horticulture, helping to keep Hackney green in more ways than one.
Teacher Gavin Bright, from the Sebright School, which took bronze in the Young and Green-fingered category, said: "It was great that the ceremony showed off Hackney's diversity and that everyone took such pride in their gardens.
“One of our pupils was very excited to meet Tommy Walsh as he inspired him to start growing.”