The greenest fingers in East Ayrshire were recognised at an award ceremony recently, when the winners of the Council’s annual garden competition were presented with their trophies.

The annual competition, now in its 78^th year, attracted hundreds of entries from throughout East Ayrshire. The Westfield Nursery Rose Bowl for the Best Overall Garden was presented to Mr Joss of Invermay, Main Street, Sorn.

The task of judging the best overall garden fell to Sam Craig and Russell Murdoch from the East Ayrshire Tenants’ and Residents’ Federation, while the four areas – Cumnock and Doon Valley, Kilmarnock Central and South, North West Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley and Ballochmyle – were judged by specialists from the Council’s Outdoor Amenities section with the Housing Service’s Area Team Co-ordinators.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council was on hand to present the trophies and congratulate the winners. He said: “I was really delighted to meet all the winners and present them with their prizes. They all work so hard in their gardens and their efforts make a very positive contribution to our communities.

“78 years ago when this competition began the concept of beautiful gardens centred around neat, tidy gardens with most gardens filled with vegetables, not the fabulous floral displays on show today.”

Councillor Reid also presented a special award on the day to Onthank and Mount Carmel Primaries for their contribution to their local communities. Councillor Reid said: “This year, in addition to the traditional awards, I was delighted to present an award to the teachers and young people of Onthank and Mount Carmel primaries. Both schools have worked within their communities, with local volunteers, on projects which have greatly enhanced the general outlook of the local area. It is wonderful that our young people are taking pride in their communities and giving so much of themselves for the benefit of others.”

 

And the winners were:

 

EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL GARDEN COMPETITION 2015 

BEST COUNCIL GARDEN, KILMARNOCK CENTRAL & SOUTH

GEMMELLS NURSERIES CUP 

Mrs Orr, 33 Commonhead Road, Kilmarnock 

RUNNER-UP COUNCIL, KILMARNOCK CENTRAL & SOUTH 

Mr Gill, 8 Earn Place, Kilmarnock

BEST PRIVATE GARDEN, KILMARNOCK CENTRAL & SOUTH

EAST AYRSHIRE CUP 

Mr Lang, 5 Holmlea Place, Kilmarnock

RUNNER-UP PRIVATE KILMARNOCK CENTRAL & SOUTH

Mrs Johnston, 2 Paxton Place, Kilmarnock

BEST COUNCIL GARDEN IRVINE VALLEY & BALLOCHMYLE

DAILY RECORD CUP

Ms Anderson, 11 Causeway Road, Darvel

JOINT RUNNER-UP COUNCIL IRVINE VALLEY & BALLOCHMYLE

Mr Rowney, 116 Castleview Avenue, Galston

Mr Muir, 11 Lomond Avenue, Hurlford 

BEST PRIVATE GARDEN IRVINE VALLEY & BALLOCHMYLE

LAND ENGINEERING CUP

Mr Joss, Invermay, Main Street, Sorn 

RUNNER-UP PRIVATE IRVINE VALLEY & BALLOCHMYLE 

Mr Kyle, 22 Clearmount, Newmilns

BEST COUNCIL GARDEN, NORTHWEST KILMARNOCK

FEDERATION CUP 

Mr Spence, 5 Raithburn Avenue, Kilmarnock 

RUNNER-UP COUNCIL NORTHWEST KILMARNOCK 

Mrs McClure, 94 Altonhill Avenue, Kilmarnock

BEST PRIVATE GARDEN, NORTHWEST KILMARNOCK

CBC Cup 

Ms Sim, 16 Glen Ord Crescent, Kilmarnock 

RUNNER-UP PRIVATE NORTHWEST KILMARNOCK 

Mr Cassidy, 127 Tourhill Road, Kilmarnock 

BEST COUNCIL GARDEN CUMNOCK & DOON VALLEY

Abie Paton Memorial Award 

Mr Campbell, 25 Watson Terrace, Drongan

RUNNER-UP COUNCIL CUMNOCK & DOON VALLEY

Mr Kelly, 19 Coyle Avenue, Drongan

BEST PRIVATE GARDEN CUMNOCK & DOON VALLEY

ISS WATERERS CUP 

Mr Robertson, 26 Highfield Place, Ochiltree

RUNNER-UP PRIVATE CUMNOCK & DOON VALLEY 

Mrs Rowan, 24 Hannahston Avenue, Drongan 

BEST VEGETABLE GARDEN

Mr Rankin, 9 Shields Terrace, Galston 

BEST HANGING BASKETS & PLANTERS

Mrs Davina Mitchell, 87 Carnshalloch Avenue, Patna

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Mr Gray, 24 Earlston Avenue, Kilmarnock

BEST NEWCOMER

Mr Stapleton, 20 MacMillan Place, Kilmarnock

OVERALL WINNER

WESTFIELD NURSERY ROSE BOWL 

Mr Joss, Invermay, Main Street, Sorn