THE green fingered winners of this year’s Royston in Bloom were honoured for their horticultural prowess last week.

Royston’s top gardeners were presented with their prizes on Thursday and the committee’s chairman broke the news that next year’s event will feature a new category.

Les Baker said: “We want to see displays which capture the spirit of next year’s events. We will simply be looking for a display which has an Olympic Games or Queen’s Diamond Jubilee theme.

“It’s not a question of turning a whole garden into a scene for either of next year’s events - a small display is all that’s needed.”

He said this year’s winners had again shown “dedication and enthusiasm” in entering the competition.

“All the entries were again inspiring and gave the judges some difficult choices.”

But he hoped that next year there would be an increase in entries for the competition.

He told the winners: “You can help by encouraging other people to enter Royston in Bloom and

letting them know the enjoyment you get from the competition.”

The awards were presented by the Mayor of Royston, Councillor Robert Inwood who said: “It’s always a good award to give out as mayor and I’m pleased to be involved.

“It always makes Royston a pleasant environmentally pleasant place to live.”

This year’s sunflower competition became a battle between brother and sister Max and Ella Fleming.

Max, who won the competition last year, had a sunflower reaching a height of 7ft4�in, but his sister took the prize with a sunflower growing to 9ft 1�in.

Other winners: Tom Potter Trophy (best entry - young persons’ project) Roman Way Nursery School; Bill Prime Trophy (best entry - young persons’ using recycled materials) Tannery Drift Young Gardeners; best front garden: Jeanette and Bill Hawkins; best front garden (easy maintenance): David Wallace; best front container garden: Josephine Cook; best kept street or community area: The Meridian School site; best entry from pubs and commercial premises: The North Star public house; best kept allotment: Chris Wallis.

The Royston in Bloom committee will be running its Sponsor-a-Bulb event in Royston market on Saturday October 9. The public are requested to sponsor bulbs which will then be planted on sites around the town in a bid to enhance the environment.

We would like to thank everyone for helping and supporting all the Royston in Bloom activities.