MALVERN'S gardeners enjoyed a record number of awards when Heart of England in Bloom announced the winners of this year's It's Your Neighbourhood competition.

The awards ceremony was held this year at Dorridge, near Solihull, when the prizes were handed out by Royal Horticultural Society judge Darren Share.

And Malvern scooped no fewer than five awards in the top category of outstanding: Great Malvern Cemetery, the Beauchamp Community at Newland, Monksfield Allotment Association, Malvern Wells Jubilee Fountain, and Link Nurseries horticulture therapy centre in Powick.

There were also awards for Storer Court in Geraldine Road, Malvern Pathways rehabilitation service, which has a garden at the Three Counties Showground, Dalvington care home in Lower Howsell Road, Clarence Park retirement village in Malvern Link, and the Arcos Smile Project in Avenue Road.

John Jordan, chairman of Malvern in Bloom, said: "Here in the Malvern area we had a record turnout, so it is congratulations all round to our local groups."

The award for the cemetery has been welcomed by Malvern Town Council, especially because it is the first time a cemetery has been entered into the competition.

Council operations manager Charles Porter and grounds operative Craig Bowkley attended the ceremony to pick up the award.

Mr Porter said: “After deciding to take a break from the main Heart of England in Bloom competition, we decided to put the cemetery forward as an It’s Your Neighbourhood entry this year because of the pride our operations team take in maintaining it.

“The main Bloom judges always mention the cemetery as a highlight of Malvern’s entry, and this result really shows what a great credit the cemetery team is to the town council.”

The judge praised the efforts of the operations team and said that the cemetery was really setting a high standard for Malvern’s planned return to the main Heart of England in Bloom competition in 2016.

The Malvern in Bloom committee is looking for volunteers to assist with the town's 2016 bid. If you would like to join the committee, or if you’d like to get your hands dirty and assist with gardening projects throughout Malvern, please contact Lyndsey Davies at the council on 01684 566667 or ldavies@malvern-tc.org.uk.