Community groups, schools, businesses and individuals who have helped make Durham beautiful are to be recognised.
The winners of this year’s Beautiful Durham competition will be revealed at a ceremony on Wednesday night (7 October) at Durham City Town Hall.
The event, organised by Durham County Council, marks 30 years of the free-to-enter annual gardening contest.
Open to residents and organisations in Durham City and surrounding villages, the competition saw dozens of entries from community groups, schools, businesses and individuals who brightened up either their own properties or public spaces.
Cllr Jan Blakey, chairman of Durham County Council and Mayor of Durham, will present trophies and certificates to the winners and runners-up.
She said: “The standard of entries in this year’s competition was exceptionally high once again and everyone who took part should be proud of their wonderful floral displays and for helping ensure the city remains beautiful.
“It is a real honour to be able to hand out all the awards to the deserving recipients and we thank them all for taking part in a milestone year for the competition – here’s to another 30 years of Beautiful Durham!”
Not only did the array of colourful floral displays and environmental improvements provide a burst of colour to local communities but the entries also contributed to the city’s efforts in the Northumbria in Bloom and Britain in Bloom competitions.
There are 13 category winners who will be presented with trophies plus five judges’ special awards and a separate school award. During the ceremony, trophies will also be presented to winners of the Durham City Homes Garden Competition.
Judging took place in July and various criteria were considered, including visual impact, colour/texture, presentation, maintenance, environmental awareness and community involvement (where applicable).
Oliver Sherratt, head of direct services, Durham County Council, said: “The judges were extremely impressed with all the efforts in what was an extra special year for the competition as it celebrated its 30th anniversary.
“This builds on the success we enjoyed last month in the regional Northumbria in Bloom competition where Durham City won gold.
“We are now keeping our fingers crossed for yet more success in the national Britain in Bloom contest when the results are announced next week.”
The winners in the main categories are as follows:
Best business premises
Winner: Court Inn, Durham
Award of Merit: Bowburn Care Centre, Bowburn
Daleside Arms, Croxdale
Finchale View Riding School, Leamside
Lambton Arms, Sherburn Village
Best group horticultural project
Winner: Belmont Allotments Club
Award of Merit: Brandon Village Community Garden
Grape Lane, Durham
HMP Durham
Old Durham Gardens
Salvation Army, Sherburn Hill
Sherburn Village Bowling Club
Ushaw Moor Community Garden
Best sheltered accommodation complex/warden controlled housing area
Winner: The Orchards, Brandon
Award of Merit: Burnigill, Meadowfield
Camsell Court, Durham Moor
Sherburn Hospital Care Home
Durham’s best kept residential area
Winner: Sunderland Bridge Village
Award of Merit: Black Road, Langley Moor
White Cedars, Brandon
Best floral containers
Winner: The Orchards, Brandon
Award of Merit: Bowburn Care Centre Bowburn
June Corker, Brandon
V Crago, Sherburn Village
Embleton Brothers, West Rainton
Margaret Hands, Framwellgate Moor
High Street, Langley Moor
Sunderland Bridge Village
Keith Turnbull, Pity Me
Best house garden (small, under 150m2)
Winner: V Crago, Sherburn Village
Award of Merit: F Barrass, Sherburn Village
Mrs Pamela Wendy Davison, Witton Gilbert
Embleton Brothers, West Rainton
S Henderson, West Rainton
Peter Hesler, Kelloe
E Potter, Bowburn
A Rowell, Belmont
J Taylor, Carrville
Keith Turnbull, Pity Me
Best house garden (medium, 150m2-300m2)
Winner: Margaret Hands, Framwellgate Moor
Award of Merit: Dennis Brown, Durham
M Cockbain, Ludworth
C.T.S Hawkins, Sunderland Bridge
J Jury, Kelloe
Best house garden (large, over 300m2)
Winner: T & B Ewin, Durham
Award of Merit: Fred & Bonny Bainbridge, Brancepeth Village
David T Huntley, Durham
I Munro, Durham
G and A Young, High Wooley
Best back yard or patio garden
Winner: Diane McQuillan, Esh Winning
Award of Merit: Lambton Arms, Sherburn Village
Alan Rowell, Belmont
F Simpson, Waterhouses
Best allotment or kitchen garden
Winner: Alan Rowell, Belmont
Award of Merit: T & B Ewin, Durham
C.T.S Hawkins, Sunderland Bridge
Diana Snowdon, Waterhouses
Best small village (population up to 500)
Winner: Sunderland Bridge Village
Best village (population 500 to 2000)
Winner: High Shincliffe
Best large village (population over 2000)
Winner: Belmont Parish
The winners of the five Judges Special Awards were:
Special Contribution: HMP Durham
Best New Entry: Daleside Arms, Croxdale
Environmental Award: Belmont Allotments Club
Discretionary Award: Bowburn Care Home
Best Overall Entry: T & B Ewin, Durham
The awards in the Beautiful Durham Schools category were given to:
Winner: Esh Winning Primary School
Award of Merit: Durham Gilesgate Primary School
This year’s competition was sponsored by:
Belmont Parish Council
Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council
Shadforth Parish Council
City of Durham Trust
Event Durham
Poplar Tree Garden Centre
Local councillors
For more information visit www.durham.gov.uk/beautifuldurham or call 03000 261 000.