Buxton blooms with gardening contest

Caleb Matchett with his flower pot person

Now in its third year since Buxton Town Team re-started the event, Buxton in Bloom attracted 66 entries from individual gardeners, schools, businesses and allotment holders.

The University of Derby Community Liaison Officer John Phillips was handing out the prizes to the winners

He said: “Buxton and flowers have always gone hand in hand thanks to the town’s celebration of its spa waters through the wells dressing festivals.”

The award for best private garden went to John Luke, of and the judges’ prize for endeavour went to Alma Square, Fairfield.

Now the town is waiting to hear how it has done in the Royal Horticultural Society’s East Midlands in Bloom contest, which in the last two years has seen Buxton win silver gilt and a special award for green-fingered work done via the Serpentine Community Farm and the Friends of Buxton

Station.

Both projects were started with the help of the Town Team, whose volunteers are using horticulture to transform Buxton by helping to replant Ashwood Park’s flower beds and create wildflower meadow; and assist High Peak Borough Council in caring for The Slopes.

Town Team chairman Roddie MacLean described these as “such a pivotal part of the town”.

He said: “The Buxton Open Gardens event in June was also a Town Team project which was a spectacular success.”

Speaking at the prize-giving at the Palace Hotel on Sunday Roddie thanked everyone who had taken part in the event, especially Claire Millard, project leader for both Buxton and East Midlands in Bloom.

The competition was sponsored by Number Six Tea Rooms and Staden Nursery.

Other winners included; Jo and Dave Holdway for their flowerpot person, and the best business flowerpot person went to Buxton Opera House. Maxine Chuwen and Quadrant Developments had the best business garden, W H Warhurst took the top spot for a private hanging basket and Number Six Tea Rooms in the business category.

In joint first place for best allotment were Sandra Worsley and Ann Thompson, Buxton Junior School was highly commended for its garden as was the Green Man Gallery.