SCHOOLS in Ellesmere Port defied one of the wettest summers on record to produce beautiful flowers and gardens for the annual Schools in Bloom competition.
Organised by Cheshire West and Chester Council and sponsored by Essar Oil, the contest is open to all schools to plant and nurture a green space.
Entries range from flower gardens and vegetable plots to bedding plant displays and hanging baskets.
Participating schools compete for prize money to be invested into future environmental projects.
Their hard work during the summer was honoured at an awards ceremony at Ness Gardens in Neston.
Brookside Primary School in Ellesmere Port won a silver award while Childer Thornton Primary School, Ellesmere Port Catholic High School and Neston Primary School all won bronze awards.
Schools were joined at the ceremony by Cllr Eleanor Johnson, the council’s executive member for culture and recreation, Cllr Stuart Parker and Ed Brady from Essar Oil.
Cllr Johnson said: “It’s really fantastic to see more and more schools getting involved with this project each year.
“The competition is a great way of encouraging an interest in gardening at a young age, and helping children and young people to learn about different plants and vegetables.”
Ed Brady from sponsor Essar said: “I would like to express huge congratulations to the schools and the children who have worked hard to plant flowers and I hope to see even more schools entering the competition in 2013.”
For more information on the Schools In Bloom project, or to enter next year’s competition, contact Greenspace officer Dee McCarthy by calling 01606288542 or emailing dee.mccarthy@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.
