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Big Number of Entries in Shirley / Papanui Annual Garden Awards

Thursday 19 February 2015, 12:43PM

By RedPR

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Shirley and Reg Williams
Shirley and Reg Williams Credit: Barbara Watson

CHRISTCHURCH

On Monday the Shirley Papanui Community Board in association with the Christchurch Beautifying Association held their annual Community Pride Garden awards.

The first awards were held across the city in 1997 and this year more than 155 awards were given out in the Shirley Papanui ward. A community board member from each ward travels through every street to assess street-front gardens across the city.

The largest of all the community board award events, Shirley Papanui winners included Reg and Shirley Williams of Casebrook who clearly put many hours of effort into their garden.

The Christchurch Beautifying Association says the awards are one way of recognising the time and effort people put into their gardens, something that brings pleasure to the gardener and the general public alike. Ward councillor Pauline Cotter describes the awards as “inspiring”.

"We were treated to a wonderful talk by avid gardener Robin Kilty, who supported her topic of “Small Gardens” with some wonderful examples around the world. Throughout the presentations of certificates there were photos of the many glorious local gardens,” she says.

Among other recipients was June Honey, who received her award for her gorgeous Papanui garden for the 19th year, to a huge round of well-deserved applause.

“The Community Pride Garden awards recognise the immense value to Christchurch City, the Garden City, of the people who create these beautiful street frontages and enhance our public spaces. It reinforces a sense of pride in one’s garden and of course the wider city," adds Peter Berry the Chair of the ChCh Streets and Garden Awards Committee which is made up of a representative from each of the community boards plus two Christchurch Beautifying Association.

Shirley Papanui Community Board Chair, Mike Davidson agrees.

"Our board is proud to support these awards and would also encourage as many residents as possible to get involved," he says.