Gardeners celebrate Skipton in Bloom success (From Craven Herald)

Gardeners celebrate Skipton in Bloom success

1:57pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in News

Gardeners in Skipton ensured the town was ablaze with colour during the summer, despite this year’s challenging weather.

Just days after the town won a gold award in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition, local gardeners were honoured in the Skipton in Bloom competition.

Vice-chairman Sue Warburton said: “2012 has been officially declared the most challenging year for gardeners in a decade. We have had the coldest ever spring followed by the wettest ever summer. Skipton gardeners have risen to the challenge and produced some stunning displays in their gardens, containers and allotments.

“The quality of entries has been really amazing considering this year’s weather. We have had a record number of entries in our two allotment categories and also attracted several first-time entrants.”

The winners were announced in a ceremony at Craven Court and the occasion was also used to present prizes to the local Yorkshire in Bloom winners.

As well as the town award, Craven College and Holy Trinity Church won silver gilt and the Stepping Stones 2 Project scooped a gold award and was also named overall winner of the public, private and charitable establishments category.

Robert Heseltine, chairman of Skipton in Bloom, said: “2012 has been Skipton’s most successful year ever in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition. These fantastic awards have been achieved by hard work, enthusiasm and commitment from a wide range of people in Skipton.”

The Skipton in Bloom winners were:

Best front garden – 1 Robert Chapman, Lytham Gardens, 2 David Baxter, Sunmoor Drive, 3 Colin Turner, Consort Street.

Best back garden – 1 Robert Chapman, Lytham Gardens, 2 Michael McQuillan, Burnside Avenue, 3 Phil and Wendy Witten, Moorview Way.

Best display of containers, tubs or baskets – 1 David Baxter, Sunmoor Drive, 2 Phil and Wendy Witten, Moorview Way, 3 Robert Chapman, Lytham Gardens.

Best Jubilee or Olympics display – 1 David Baxter, Skipton Auto Services, 2 Fiona Whalley, Peter Watson Garage.

Best business or statutory body – 1 Norman Thompson, Walker Foster, 2 David Baxter, Skipton Auto Services, 3 Colin Turner, Three Links Club.

Best allotment, Middletown – 1 Michael McQuillan and David Baxter, 2 Michael McQuillan, 3 Margaret Benson.

Best allotment, Broughton Road – 1 Michael Gallagher, 2 Andrew McInnes, 3 Billy Robinson.