GREEN LIGHT FOR GARDEN COMPETITION
Evington in Bloom has found a new organiser for the planned best front garden competition, following an appeal in the last issue of the Echo.
Nick Thornton, who many will remember as the coordinator of the Leicester in Bloom campaign in the 1990s, and more recently as the editor of the Leicester Link magazine, has kindly come forward to lend his expertise to the cause.
“I’m very excited to be returning to my roots, so to speak, and getting involved in this super community gardening initiative,” said Nick who spent 24 years working at the city council. “I grew up in the local area, going to the Whitehall and City of Leicester schools, and still have family here - so it’s nice to be able to put something back as a volunteer.”
“The key to a competition like this is to open it up to everyone, even people who haven’t got particularly green fingers. So I envisage some novice categories and a competition for hanging baskets and containers for those who haven’t a great deal of space at the front of their home.”
Potential sponsors are also very welcome to come forward to support individual categories, either as businesses or in memorial of a loved one who may have had a passion for gardening.
“My grandfather was a nurseryman and my nana sold the flowers he grew on Leicester Market. I like to think I’m keeping his spirit alive when I’m growing things,” said Nick, who also runs his own garden maintenance business between his writing projects.
“The thing is to give it a try. It’s surprising what impact you can get from just three or four petunias in a hanging basket.”
More information will be released about the competition in the months ahead. In the meantime you can register your interest by email to thorn002@talktalk.net or by calling Nick on 07507 781449.