Gardening Winners pick up their awards

By Sam Harrison (sam.harrison@iliffepublishing.co.uk)

An article in the Bury Free Press features these awards, full text below.

Groups, individuals, schools and care homes have been celebrated at an award ceremony recognising gardening excellence.

The Bury in Bloom Greenfingers Awards took place on Tuesday at The Athenaeum, in Bury St Edmunds, and saw certificates and specially illustrated framed awards given to category winners.

Winners included Luke Stock , from Tollgate Primary, with the Up and Coming Gardener Award, Jane Harden with the Most Inspirational Teacher Award and Davers Court took home the Assisted Living and Care Homes Award.

Winning schools included Abbots Green, which won the EYFS Nursery Schools Award, The Bungalow won the Schools and Facilities Award, St Edmundsbury Cof E Primary won the Primary Schools Award and Sybil Andrews Academy won the Secondary Schools Award.

Coordinator Chris Wiley said: “The Greenfingers arm of Bury in Bloom has grown considerably this year and continues to do so into 2024. The awards have always been very popular and this year the quality of entries has raised the bar to a new level.

“Our Greenfingers coordinators, Fiona and Mags, loved judging the entrants this summer and they always put in so much of their own time to make the project a success. There is certainly a bright future for up-and-coming gardeners in Bury St Edmunds. “

Each category had certificates for Gold, Silver and Bronze and these were presented and sponsored by Greene King, Denbury Homes and Care UK. The certificates were illustrated by botanical artist Matthew Peace and special guest Lucy Redman, a garden designer and lecturer at the Beth Chatto gardens, gave a talk at the ceremony.

The Greenfingers awards come after a successful year for the town as the Anglia in Bloom Awards saw Bury St Edmunds win two awards on Wednesday, September 20.

Assisted living and care homes award winners, Davers Court

Primary School winners, St Edmundsbury C of E Primary

Secondary Schools winners, Sybil Andrews Academy

EYFS Nursery Schools winners, Abbots Green

Most Inspirational teacher winner, Jane Harden

Up and coming gardener winner, Luke Stock, from Tollgate Primary

Special schools and facilities winners, The Bungalow