Last call for green fingered residents
7 June 2010
Green-fingered Manchester residents are being reminded they only have a few weeks to enter the city’s summer gardening contest.
Mancunians who are proud of their gardens are being invited to enter Manchester City Council's Great Green Neighbourhoods contest before the June 18 deadline - and stand a chance of winning cash prizes of up to £500.
Any amateur gardeners are invited to enter, and judges will be looking for bright, colourful displays in which residents make good use of space, while extra points will be given for features that help support wildlife, such as gardens with wild corners and clever use of native plants to provide food for birds and insects.
The City Council was inundated with entries during last year's contest, with prizes going to people like Darren Skeene, who created a garden which judges said 'wouldn't look out of place at the Tatton show' on what had been a plain grass plot behind his block of flats in Cheetham.
The contest is open to all Manchester private tenants or homeowners, as well as tenants of the City Council, Adactus, Eastlands Homes, Grove Village/ Harvest Housing/ MDHA, Guinness Northern Counties and Northwards Housing.
Categories include best private and non-private housing garden, best communal garden, most improved garden and best nursery and crèche, best street and best contribution to the community, while the contest is also open to schools, with under 11 and 11-18 categories.
Councillor Paul Andrews, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: "We know Manchester residents have a lot of pride in the areas they live, and this competition is an excellent opportunity for them to demonstrate that pride.
"Manchester's had some wonderful successes recently, such as coming back from last year's North West In Bloom finals with a record 64 awards, and this is another chance for residents to show their green-fingered talent."
Contact the Environmental Campaigns Team on 0161 953 2733 or email campaigns.team@manchester.gov.uk to enter.
