• Sat. Dec 7th, 2024

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Winners crowned in Beautiful Durham competition

203Community 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.

By admin