St Albans roads keep blooming for Rennie Grove hospice

More than 120 residents from the London Road area of St Albans took part in the fourth annual Roads in Bloom competition during June and July, raising more than £1,800 to be split between Rennie Grove and homeless charity Open Door.

Gardens attached to the predominantly Victorian and Edwardian style properties on Alexandra Road, Alma Road, Bedford Road and Inkerman Road put on a stunning display of flowers and plants in hanging baskets, troughs, tubs and window boxes as part of the ‘be creative with your space’ and 90-year theme.

On Sunday July 10, winners were announced and presented with their prizes at the White Hart Tap.

Judges, including representatives from event sponsors Aylett Nurseries, local councillor Chris White and Michael the postman, had ranked the top-performing gardens from first to fourth. Adam Wigglesworth, director at Aylett Nurseries, awarded the prizes.

Residents in Inkerman Road took first and second place with displays in Alexandra and Bedford Road gardens securing third and fourth place.

Thanks to event sponsors, Aylett Nurseries, the top four gardens won vouchers totalling £215 to spend at the nursery just south of St Albans, which also offered a generous discount to all Roads in Bloom entrants.

To mark the Queen’s 90th birthday, Aylett Nurseries also awarded a special prize this year for the best display associated with the number ‘90’.

Thanks to the event sponsors, entrants and organiser David Glanville, this delightful local scheme has raised enough to fund more than 30 hours of specialist care in patients’ homes or at Grove House.

Of the £906 raised for Rennie Grove, Aylett Nurseries vouchers to the value of £150 were donated to volunteer Sue Hobley, for her to buy plants for the gardens at Grove House.