FRIENDS of Leamington Station are chuffed after its gardens were rated ‘outstanding’ in a prestigious floral competition.
The band of volunteers achieved a ‘Level 5’ in The Royal Horticultural Society and Heart of England in Bloom’s annual It’s Your Neighbourhood Awards recently. They scored a total of 97 out of 100 points across all judging categories and as a result came away with an ‘outstanding’ certificate.
Judges were particularly impressed by the terrace gardens and mixed borders, the display of photographs in the subway between the platforms, the fact green waste is composted on site, the bird feeding areas and the topiary train.
The group of 20 volunteers formed in 2004 and maintain three garden areas around the station throughout the year.
And the group is not just about gardening. They meet regularly for coffee and a chat and even visit the cinema.
A spokesperson for the group said they were especially pleased to receive the award as it had been achieved despite having to contend with a dry summer and construction work at the site.
