Garden gems recognised in annual Bloom awards

St Pauls Court took the title of the Best Retirement Complex.

The 2016 contest comprised four categories: Best Garden; Best Container Display; Best Retirement Complex; and Best Commercial Premises.

The standard of entries was once again high and the judges were impressed with what they saw.

Turnbulls was second in the Best Commercial Premises section.

Elizabeth Jones, chairman of Alnwick in Bloom, said: “The judges said that the standard was absolutely superb and they enjoyed the trip around Alnwick looking at the excellent floral displays.

“We are very happy with the response to this year’s competition and we had a few more entries than last year, so the popularity of the competition is growing.”

Geoff Anderson, of 16 St James Estate, took the title in the Best Garden category. The runner-up was Alan Wall, of 41 Springfield Park, while Ron Bernstein, of 33 Lower Barresdale, came third.

In the Best Container Display section, George Turner, of 35 Swansfield Park Road, was crowned the winner. Second place went to Vince Fife, from 56 St James Estate, while Jenny Blair, of 14 Blakelaw Road, was third.

Jean Atkinson, of 6 Mews Towers, Park View, was second in the Best Retirement Complex category.

The winner of the Best Commercial Premises category was The Plough, on Bondgate Without, followed by Turnbulls, on Market Street, in second. The Northumberland Gazette, on Bondgate Without, was third.

Residents and staff at St Paul’s Court, on Prudhoe Street, are celebrating after taking the title in the Best Retirement Complex section. The runner-up was Jean Atkinson, of 6 Mews Towers, on Park View, while residents at Clayport Mews came third.

The prizes, which will be silver plaques for first, second and third places, will be presented at a ceremony at The Alnwick Garden on Tuesday, September 20, from 6.30pm.

○ Gazette readers are being given a last chance to submit their entries for the annual Sunflower Challenge, before judging takes place at the end of August/beginning of September.

Geoff Anderson was the winner of the Best Garden section.

Email your entries to Janet Hall at [email protected] with name, address and contact number. You can also include a picture of the sunflower, but this is not essential. The winners will be presented with prizes at the same ceremony in The Garden in September.