Green-fingered tenants who made their gardens blooming beautiful this year have been recognised in an annual competition.
Eleven Livingwell sites in Glasgow and surrounding areas fought it out for the coveted overall prize.
The sites were at Livingwell developments, a service run by Wheatley Care, part of Wheatley Group, for people aged 55 and over to help them live independently in their own homes for as long as they can.
The top prize went to the Mair Street service in Kinning Park, which won £70 in B&Q vouchers, donated by Wheatley Foundation and Livingwell.
Joint runners-up were residents at Sword Street in Glasgow’s Calton area and those at Sandford in Baillieston, who each received £50 in B&Q vouchers, donated by Wheatley’s Neighbourhood Environmental Teams (NETs).
Janet Kennedy, 77, from Livingwell’s Mair Street service, was one of the overall winning team. The others were Liz McKenzie, Maxwell James, Ann Lindsay, Kenny Logan, Eileen Carberry, Ann Lindsay, Peter McGregor and Livingwell advisor Jim Brown.
Janet said: “This is the first time we have entered the competition, and we are really pleased to have won.
“The garden was a bit untidy before. There were a lot of deep roots that needed to be removed. We had some volunteers in and, once we got the garden cleared, we started to put the plants in, and it was lovely to see so much colour.
“We planted lavender, gladioli, pansies and petunias and they attracted bees and other insects. The colours were beautiful. We had people walking by with their dogs and saying how beautiful it looks.
“The garden is now a lovely place for us to sit and have a chat. Residents didn’t used to sit in the garden in the nice weather, now they do. It’s encouraging residents, who maybe stayed in their homes, to come out and meet their neighbours.”
Other sites who were commended were Bellrock (Cranhill) and St John’s Court (west-end) for best potted plants; Marfield New (Carntyne) for best outside space; Elmslie (Baillieston) for best tidy-up; and Lourdes (Cardonald) for best use of space. Each of these services received £30 in vouchers courtesy of Livingwell.
Louise Dunlop, Wheatley Care’s Managing Director, said: “Congratulations to all the winners and participants in this year’s Livingwell gardening competition. It’s inspiring to see so many people bringing colour and life to their gardens and communities.
“The joy and camaraderie shared throughout the competition were clear to see, with everyone taking great pride – and having great fun – in creating such beautiful spaces.”
Wheatley Foundation was set up and is funded by Wheatley Group and its subsidiaries to benefit Wheatley customers across Scotland through helping with social and financial inclusion, employability, education and digital inclusion. They also support children and young people living in Wheatley com
