Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council recently held an awards ceremony for the annual Best Kept Garden Awards. Green fingered enthusiasts from across the Borough gathered for the much anticipated announcement of winners from a range of different categories.
The competition has been running since 2016 and each year grows from strength to strength. For this year’s awards, there were a massive 121 entries (an increase in over 40 from the previous year), which made the competition to win these coveted awards tougher than ever.
There were five main award categories, Best Kept Garden, Best Kept Front/Container Garden, Best Kept School, Best Kept Commercial Premises and Best Kept Community Planting. The judging panel was made up of the Mayor, and a selection of elected members from across the Borough who had the difficult task of choosing the winners.
Awards winners as follows;
Best Kept Garden: 1st place Molly Grattan, 2nd place Colin Mitchell
Best Kept Front/container: 1st William Crawford, 2nd Elizabeth English Wylie
Best Kept School: 1st Riverside School, 2nd Duneane Primary School
Best Commercial Premises: 1st Dunadry Hotel Gardens and McConnells Bar
Best Kept Community Planting: 1st Whiteabbey Village Business Association, 2nd The Lock Keepers Cottage
A new category, ‘Best in District’ was added this year. This award recognises the best in each of the Council’s seven electoral district areas with the winners are as follows:
Antrim: Riverside School
Airport: Florence Faulkner
Macedon: Whiteabbey Business Association
Ballyclare: McConnells bar
Dunsilly: Wesley and Doreen McFetridge
Glengormley Urban: Carnmoney Village Community Group
Threemilewater: Molly Grattan
The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Billy Webb said “It is fantastic to recognise such horticultural talent within the Borough and to see such an amazing variety of gardens on display. Huge congratulations to the all the winners in each category and a massive thank you to all who took part to make the awards such a wonderful event.”
