Green fingered Camden schoolchildren, businesses and residents came together at Camden Town Hall on Monday 8 September to discover who had been successful in this year’s Camden in Bloom competition and celebrate sustainability in the borough.
Camden in Bloom has been running for many years and is a much-loved local event. This year’s competition was in partnership with Project Dirt and was kindly sponsored by Veolia, Camden Garden Centre, Fountains/OCS, City Suburban Tree Surgeons Limited and The Francis Crick Institute.
2014 saw a total of 88 entries; 8 for the schools, and 80 for the business and residential competition.
Councillor Sarah Hayward - Leader of the Council and Councillor Lazzaro Pietragnoli, Mayor of Camden presented the awards to the winners of the schools competition.
There were five categories in the schools’ competition this year. For each category, there was a first and second prize with the category of ‘Greenest School’ being the overall winner.
· Energy efficiency: First prize (joint) – Fitzjohn’s Primary School and Sarum Hall School. Second prize - Argyle Primary School
· Biodiversity: First prize - St Paul’s CE Primary. Second prize - Torriano Junior School
· Litter and waste: First prize - St Paul’s CE Primary School. Second prize - Sarum Hall School
· Health and wellbeing: First prize - Sarum Hall School. Second prize - Swiss Cottage School
· Greenest school: First prize - Sarum Hall School. Second prize – St Paul’s CE Primary School
Councillor Sally Gimson, Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Environment and Councillor Pietragnoli presented the awards to winners for the business and residential competition.
Councillor Lazzaro Pietragnoli, Mayor of Camden said:
“I would like to congratulate everybody for taking part, for doing their bit to make Camden greener together, helping make the environment in which we all live and work a really pleasant place to be.
“The high quality entries show the hard work and commitment that has gone into each and every entry.”
Councillor Sally Gimson, Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Environment said:
“Once again the residents, businesses and schools of Camden have surpassed themselves with their originality, thoughtfulness and creativity
“Camden in Bloom is a great example of what we can all achieve to help make our corner of the capital greener.”
There were five categories in the Camden in Bloom residents and business Competition this year. For each category, there were three prizes.
Best communal garden
1. Marchmont Community Garden Partnership
2. Camden Town Unlimited
3. Highgate Dental Practice
Best balcony
1. Celia Aherne
2. Camden Town Unlimited
3. Charlotte Harkin
Best environmental project
1. Wildlife on your Waterways
2. Grow Lissenden
3. ShutterPatch
Best community project
1. Kingsgate Garden Club
2. Garden Friends
3. Esta Bill’s Food project
Best business entrance
1. Cecil Sharp House
2. Regent’s Place
3. Fitzrovia Youth in Action
Special commendation: UCS Active University College School
Notes to editors
The business and residential photo (Camden in Bloom winners): Councillor Sally Gimson, Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Environment and the Mayor of Camden, Councillor Lazzaro Pietragnoli with winners of the Camden in Bloom 2014 business and residential awards.
The schools’ photo (Sarum Hall): Councillor Sarah Hayward, Leader of Camden Council and the Mayor of Camden, Councillor Lazzaro Pietragnoli with children from Sarum Hall School, winners of the Greenest School at the Camden in Bloom 2014 schools awards.
This year’s judges for the schools competition were:
Peter Hulatt
Martin Crabbe
Anna Portch
Sue Heiser
For the business and residential competition the judges were:
Makela Gilchrist
Will Sandy
Ian Drummond
Sally Ducker
Alex Hartnall
Adila Rose
Vinny Ganley
Janet de Vos
Television Gardener Chris Colins was a judge for the Best Environmental Project for the Business and Residential Competition and visited the projects with Cllr Gimson. He also ran the first set of horticultural workshops this year with the intention of inspiring schoolchildren, businesses and residents to get into gardening and food growing.