After the success of last year, we’re bringing the gardening competition back. Residents can now enter online for the chance to win upto £50 for their prize-worthy green spaces.

Last year we saw some amazing entries from our villages, shared ownership homes and schemes across Staffordshire and surrounding areas.

After it brought communities together and helped people with their mental health we were excited to launch it again.

Laura Dalton, Housing Manager explains: “Each year we see residents put so much work into making their gardens and green spaces look amazing.

“Last year’s competition was great and helped celebrate that. But we found it also helped to boost community spirit by bringing people together. We saw people who lived in our villages and schemes chip in and help each other to create fabulous green spaces everyone could enjoy.

“We found it also helped some residents with their mental wellbeing by helping them to reconnect to nature after a tough year. 

“At Staffs Housing we’re always looking for ways to help improve our communities and bring people together, so after the success of last year we were eager to bring it back.”

Runners up Dorris and Dave won prizes for their communal garden at their scheme in Newcastle-under-Lyme last year. It was a joint effort that allowed residents to enjoy the space.

“It was a joint effort with lots of people throughout the scheme chipping in to make the outside space look good”, Dorris explains. “We even got compliments from the wider community too.”

“My neighbour Dave did most of the hard grafting, but we helped where we could. Helping and supporting each other where you can is what community is all about.”

Residents from across Staffs Housing will be able to enter the competition and could win either a £50 gift card or £25 for runners-up. To make it fair for people with big and small green spaces we have four categories for residents to enter:

• Nicest individual garden
• Best plant display/window box/hanging basket
• Nicest communal garden
• Best allotment or vegetable patch

To be in with a chance of winning go to: www.staffshousing.org.uk/gardencompetition and upload a photo of your green space and tell us what it means to you!

Looking for inspiration? Take a look at last year's entries below: