Growing greener on Watergate

Published by Frances Griss for Dale & Valley Homes in Housing and also in Communities

Hard working winners of the Watergate estate gardening competition will be making their patches bloom even brighter thanks to prizes from Dale & Valley Homes.

All the winners from the estate in Crook, County Durham,, including seven-year-old Dan Fallon fromConiston Crescent, will receive gift vouchers as a reward for making their gardens bloom.

Dan, who won the junior section, only moved into his home in March this year, but was out digging his patch the very same day.

He said: “Its fun when I’m bored, I just love gardening.”

Dan’s success in the competition has inspired his brother Brody to want to garden too.

Ken Blakey, from Grasmere Grove, is the winner of the adult section of the competition. He has been caring for his garden for many years and has magnificent displays of flowers and vegetables to show for it.

He said: “The garden means everything. It’s mainly to keep me active – it is my gym. A lot of people come to me asking if they can have a look at my garden.

“It is a little place for me and the dogs.”

John and Ann Spoors fromScafellGardenswon the prize for new tenants.

Craig Sams, who organised the competition, said: “It has been really inspiring to see the work some people put into their gardens. Hopefully other residents will se what can be achieved and create something to rival the winners in the future.”