Annual gardens contest
There was a good turnout for the annual Blair In Bloom gardens competition prize-giving ceremony, which took place last week in the St Catharine’s Centre on George Street.
Chair of the award-winning local environmental group, Helen McCann, welcomed those gathered to the event and gave a short presentation showcasing Blair In Bloom’s work over the past year.
Highlights included everything from the group’s work with schools and nurseries in the area, planting and looking after the town’s beautiful hanging baskets, organising litter picks and weekly weeding parties, planting crocuses in conjunction with the Rotary Club in support of their Purple4Polio campaign and giving talks to various local groups.
Mrs McCann also highlighted the number of local community groups that Blair in Bloom works with such as the One Voice Volunteer Group, the Trefoil Guild, the Loon Braes Parknership, the Blairgowrie and Rattray Access Network and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
And the group’s successes in bloom competitions such as Take a Pride in Perthshire and Beautiful Scotland were also mentioned.
Before the competition winners were presented with their certificates, president of Blair In Bloom, Sir William Macpherson of Cluny, said:“It’s a privilege to be the president of Blair in Bloom and I would like to pay tribute to Helen and her team who do a great deal of work to keep Blairgowrie and Rattray beautiful.
“We are enormously grateful to them for that.
“Congratulations also to all the prize-winners who do so much to keep their gardens beautiful.”
Lady Hilary Burnham then presented the prizewinners with their trophies and certificates.
The trophy for best garden went to Margaret Anton who was unable to attend the presentation, with Tom Caldow in second place in that category and Ian and Pat Richards receiving a certificate for third place.
Jackie and Mick Ware were presented with the trophy for winning the category for the best containers not on public view with Tom Caldow in second place and Johnny Oliver third.
Tom Caldow won the category for containers on public view with Mary Birch second and A Townsley third.
Tom also won the prize for best hanging baskets and best summer bedding in a small garden.
Youngster Fergus MacQueen (9) won the trophy for the best vegetable garden as well as first prize in the under 18s class in the photography competition.
The best business premises trophy was won by Rattray Bowling Club with Wisecraft’s new garden in second place, and the judge’s choice of best garden feature was awarded to A Townsley.
Local councillors for the Blairgowrie and the Glens ward, Caroline Shiers and Bob Ellis, were both at the event.
Councillor Shiers commented:“The awards ceremony was a lovely event. Congratulations to all the winners and those who took part.
“Thanks also to Helen McCann and all at Blair in Bloom for all they have done throughout 2016.
“It is interesting to note that in 2018 Blair in Bloom will celebrate its 40th birthday, which is a fantastic achievement and one which I hope will be well marked within the community.
“The town would certainly be a more drab and less attractive place without all the hard work of the Blair in Bloom volunteers.”