Endeavour Tenants Celebrate Garden Success

Published by Esme Trelease for Endeavour Housing Association in Housing and also in Communities

When Endeavour Housing Association’s Tenant’s Advisory Panel decided to run a gardening competition, they could not have foreseen the quality of entrants. In fact, from the number of spectacular gardens entered, it is safe to say that Alan Titchmarsh could learn a thing or two.

 Jeff Galloway, from Endeavour’s Tenant’s Advisory Panel explains.

“As a group of tenants ourselves, we knew that there were many Endeavour Tenants who enjoy their gardens and put a lot of hard work in. We thought that this gardening competition was a good way of recognising that. The entrants that we got were outstanding, and we were all surprised both at the quality and the amount of time and money competitors spent on their gardens.”

Entrants were whittled down with some difficulty, but eventually the winners were decided. Claiming the top prize of £50 were Mr and Mrs Gaines of 3 Kent Gardens in Moorside, Consett. Mr and Mrs Gaines, who have lived in their bungalow since it was built six years ago, were thrilled to receive the prize, as Mrs Gaines explains.

“We’re both over the moon to have won this award. We pour our heart and soul into our garden, and spend a lot of time planning and working on it. We still feel like we have some work to do, and the prize money will go towards that.”

Matthew Foreman, Director of Housing for North Star Housing Group, Endeavour Housing Association’s parent company says that it is important to recognise the hard work of tenants.

“As an organisation, we strive to build excellent places for our customers to live. It is wonderful when tenants take those houses and do something amazing with them to make them into great homes. This can certainly be said of Mr and Mrs Gaines, who have clearly put a great deal of effort into creating such a beautiful garden. After a hard days work in the garden, they should be very proud to sit and relax in such lovely surroundings.”