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 78th 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