Winners announced in Havering in Bloom competition

Havering's most green fingered residents were announced in the Havering In Bloom awards on Friday night (30 October).

Over the past year residents have been creating splashes of colour in their gardens with stunning displays of flowers. Pubs and restaurants have been doing their bit to brighten up the borough with lovely hanging baskets.

Pupils also got involved at schools across Havering and businesses encouraged staff to introduce some colour to cheer up their workplaces. Children were also asked to try to grow the tallest sunflower.

This year there were well over 100 entries and the winners were announced at a ceremony in the Town Hall.

Once again the hottest contested category was the Best Front Garden category which was won by Maureen Reed, of Willow Walk, Cranham.

A landscaping piece inspired by the school's emblem and colours earned Campion School the Best Senior School Award.

The winner of the Best School Hanging Basket category, Dunningford Primary School, will be planting the hanging baskets in South Street, Romford, next season.

The event was attended by the Mayor Cllr Roger Ramsey and Cabinet member for Streetcare, Cllr Barry Tebbutt.

Cllr Tebbutt, one of the judges, said: "Havering In Bloom has once again brought out the best in our borough's green fingered residents, with entries featuring stunning displays and creative landscaping. We were looking for something really special as well as a desire to improve the beauty of the borough."

The aim of Havering In Bloom is to transform the appearance of the borough, instil pride in the people of the borough and to make it more attractive to visitors.

Havering in Bloom Winners

Best Junior School Grounds

Winner: Nelmes Primary School
2nd place: Whybridge Infant School
3rd Place: St Peters Primary School

Best School Hanging Basket

Winner: Dunningford Primary School Year 5
2nd place: Crownfield Infant School

Best School Bio Area

Winner: Rise Park Infant School
2nd place: Nelmes School

Best Senior School Grounds

Winner: Campion School

Best Havering Front Garden Award

Winner: Mrs Maureen Reed, Willow walk , Cranham
2nd place: Mrs Mary Freeman, Shirley Gardens, Hornchurch
3rd Place: Geoffrey and Mavis Taylor, Lodge Lane, Collier Row
Mrs Joan Hogg, Hartland Road, Hornchurch

Best Havering Community Garden Award

Winner:Residents of Douglas Road, Romford
Runner's Up:Brenda Blakemore Community Hall, Rainham
Secret Garden, Harrow Lodge Park

Best Havering Container Award

Winner: George Griffiths, Hamlet Road, Collier Row

Best Havering Bloomin' Pub Award

Winner: Lennards, Rainham

Best Commercial Area

Winner: Saint Francis Hospice
Runner's Up: Debneys Opticians; Moor lane Shops

Best Havering Allotment Category

Best Site: Norfolk Road

Best Plot: Winner: David and Lynda Willox, Plot 8 Norfolk Road
2nd place: Raymond Carvalho, Jubilee Close
3rd Place: Clive Godden, Plot 6 Robin Close

Best Havering Restaurant/Hotel Award

Winner: Mandarin Palace, Hornchurch

The Chambers Award

Winner: Norfolk Road Allotments

Discretionary Award

Winner: Saint Francis Hospice

Sunflower Competition

Winner: Cristabelle Owens, 13ft 6ins

Sunflower Certificates of Excellence

Lilly Edmeades, 12ft 9ins
Robert Spink, 12ft 3ins
Curtis Clark, 10ft
Emily Gordon, 9ft 4ins
Jody Tebbutt, 9ft 1ins
Ella Meresh, 7ft 5ins