Gardening competition: winners announced

Date: 30/11/21

We’re celebrating our green-fingered residents who transformed their outdoor spaces during the pandemic. Residents across our 3,000 homes were invited to enter a gardening competition to find the best plant displays, communal gardens, individual gardens and allotments. This month, Housing Manager Laura Dalton congratulated the six winners and three runners-up including resident Brian who won the ‘nicest garden’ prize.

“We know that being proud of your home doesn’t stop at the front door, it’s about the outdoor space and community too. That’s why at Staffs Housing we’re continuously looking for new ways to help bring communities together to celebrate that proud home feeling.

“We discovered throughout the pandemic residents were spending a lot more time in their gardens. For a lot of people, it became their escape and somewhere they could relax and forget about what was going on in the world. For some who suddenly had time on their hands, their gardens became a project to focus on.

“During scheme visits, our housing officers noticed the incredible garden transformations, so we decided to celebrate by running a gardening competition.”

Winner Brian says: “It’s lovely to win and nice that Staffs Housing appreciate our garden as much as we do. I don’t normally enter competitions, but we love our garden and treat it like another room in the house. When I saw the email about the competition, I had to enter.

“We’ve lived here over ten years and love it. I’m always in the garden especially throughout COVID. It’s helped to keep me busy and given me something to work on. My wife and I got married recently and we even decided to have our wedding reception in the garden, so it’s pretty special.”

Runners up Dorris and David won prizes for their communal garden at their scheme in Newcastle-under-Lyme. It was a joint effort with residents across the scheme coming together to transform and enjoy the space.

“I’m thrilled to win!”, says Dorris. “It’s been a joint effort, with lots of people throughout the scheme chipping in to make the outside space look good. It means that people all around the scheme can enjoy the space, and we even get compliments from the wider community too!”

“My neighbour Dave has done most of the hard grafting and lifting and honestly we would have been lost without him during the last 18 months. As well as gardening he’s been helping us to fetch our essentials like food and medication, while having a job and finding time to see his family. We’re so grateful to have him.”

“It’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference to people”, explains Dave. “Helping out where you can and supporting each other is what community is all about. The garden has made such a massive change to people living at the scheme. With the prize money I think I’ll get a nice tree and hopefully it’ll help us win again next year!”

All the winners and runners-up have now been contacted. Missed out? Don't worry we're planning to run the competition again next year so be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the username @StaffsHousing to be in with a chance of winning!

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