RESIDENTS across Stockton Borough are being recognised for their commitment to caring for their area.
The annual Care For Your Area Awards acknowledge the fantastic work of local residents, schools and businesses in a variety of categories such as the community awards, best garden awards and local school children's painting competition.
At a ceremony at Tall Trees Hotel in Yarm, the winners received their award and runners up were presented with merit certificates. This year's winners are:
Children's Painting Competition:
Samantha Pennock (age 6) - Whitehouse Primary, Lily Mitchell-Nugent (age 7) - Whitehouse Primary, - Rebecca Sanders (age 10) - Junction Farm Primary, Aimee Colley (age 12) St Michaels RC Secondary, Amy Grant (age 14) - St Michaels RC secondary, Dylan Waite (age 11) - Whitehouse Primary, Tina Rowbotham (age 13) - Abbey Hill School.
Business:
Wellington Square Shopping Centre, Stockton. This shopping centre is a relatively new development within Stockton Town Centre responsible for bringing big retail shopping to the area. They are heavily involved in promoting both Northumbria & Britain in Bloom promoting the council's bid with planting features and advertising boards and banners.
School:
Billingham Campus. Following the tragic deaths of a number of pupils and staff, pupils put together design ideas for a memorial garden as a remembrance to those lost - through hard work and determination the school have raised funds and created a unique space for pupils to learn, enjoy and remember departed friends, with a creation of a sensory garden, performance space and raised floral bedding areas.
Environmental Contribution:
Unitarian Church, Stockton. When demolishing the old church the majority of internal materials including fireplaces, doors, pews, staircase, floorboards and furniture where recycled and are being re-used in the new building. This group has replaced a very large and thermally inefficient Victorian Church with a state of the art energy efficient building. They have many facilities for the community to use and it is a showplace for renewable energy it includes solar roof tiles, low energy light bulbs, water saving percussion taps, dual flush water saving toilets and the floors walls and ceilings are insulated and they have the provision for a wind turbine subject to planning permission - all contributing to a big reduction in their overall carbon footprint.
Conservation Project:
Preston Lane Allotments - These allotments are recognised as a national flagship site. It was recently picked with nine other allotment sites across the country for a TV Documentary 'Britain's Best Allotments - Green Gorgeous Gardens', a great achievement for the hard working committee. Other successful projects include the Allotment in Education Project for which they received funding for a steel container now used as a classroom to deliver courses in allotment gardening, this site is a haven for habitat and is a real pleasure to visit - it will inspire anyone to do their bit from the novice to the expert!
Community Contribution:
Bishopsgarth Assoication of Residents. This resident association has worked hard from a standing start, working with local residents, CFYA, local schools and shop owners they have organised a garden competition, a sunflower competition and bulb planting activities. They havealso secured funds to purchase a further 6000 spring bulbs to be planted later this year - the work of this group is to be applauded as the effects of their work is now being enjoyed by many - a true sign of community spirit.
Individual:
Denise Newbury. Denise has worked for several years for WECA Residents Association and she is amazing in her determination to improve the areas of Parkfield & Mill Lane. She is also the Chair of the successful Street Reps group, working together with the local people and the Care For Your Area reporting any street scene issues. Denise is highly regarded by many and a true inspiration to all.
Group:
Ropner Park Bowling Association.A hard working committee who manage the bowling club on a self-management arrangement with the Council -everyone admires the floral displays and fantastic greens at this bowling club. From small donations and a group of committed volunteers they have created beautiful displays and borders. Their grounds set the standard for the recent restoration of Roper Park.
Best Garden categories:
Business:
Rycroft Garage, Preston Farm Industrial Estate. The gardener Marshall Waite has been employed by Rycroft for a number of years and is a dedicated gardener. Part of his duties is to maintain the landscaped areas around the showrooms. These areas are maintained to a very high standard and as a result have received awards from the very prestigious Northumbria in Bloom.
Neighbourhood:
St Cuthberts Court Resident Association, Thornaby. These residents have worked together and demonstrated true commitment in enhancing their local community, they have produced a wonderful display giving pride and pleasure to everyone who lives and visits, they are worthy winners of this award.
Pensioners' Garden:
Mrs Barley, Billingham. In two years this lady has transformed a derelict garden into a beautiful haven. Not only has this resident created an array of colour complimented by a good selection of shrubs but also makes her own trellis's and furniture - an absolutely stunning garden.
Front Garden:
Mrs & Mrs Bradley, Ingleby Barwick Regular winners of Ingleby Barwick Annual Garden Competition this couple have managed to win prizes now from their previous and current address. It is therefore clear to see that they are both keen gardeners and have dedicated a great deal of time and effort in order to produce outstanding results - an absolutely stunning garden.
Back Garden:
Mrs Mulligan, Thornaby. It is said that this garden is a reflection of its owner - it is vibrant, colourful and quirky. Her garden is a labour of love, a truly remarkable and unique venture that she has enjoyed nourishing and creating - you will be overwhelmed by the splendours displayed.
Hanging Baskets and Containers:
Mr Dubell, Marsh House Avenue, Billingham. Both front and rear gardens display the most wonderful baskets and containers. Mr Dubell works tirelessly each year to create this star attraction, which provides pleasure to everyone who passes by.
Councillor Jennie Beaumont, Stockton Council's Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: "The Care For Your Area Community Awards both celebrate and justly recognise those individuals, groups, schools and businesses who are committed to caring for the environment.
"No matter how small, everyone can help to make the environment better and the Council appreciates those people who go the extra mile to make that possible."
