Bloomin' good effort

PETAL power proved irresistible as six local schools who had entered the Bexhill in Bloom youth competition gathered at the High School in Gunters Lane last Friday to find out who had won.

Overall winner was the High School itself, with St Mary’s Wrestwood Road runners-up.

The 2011 Youth Competition brief was to plant a seaside garden, using guidance from brochures showing how to enter and what judges would be looking for.

Bexhill’s Mayor, Cllr Stuart Wood, was unable to attend due to a prior engagement, but a former mayor, Cllr Paul Lendon, stepped in to present the awards.

He shared the duties with Steve, from Freedom Leisure, who sponsored the prizes.

Cllr Lendon welcomed everyone and gave a short talk about Sussex Day, held on June 16 and growing more popular by the year.

Bexhill High School was presented with the winner’s trophy, certificate and a £40 voucher from Freedom Leisure. Second place St Mary’s Wrestwood received a certificate and a £20 voucher.

The other four schools were each highly commended, and were: King Offa, Pebsham, St Mary Magdalene and Sidley.

A feature of the competition is that all entrants have to produce a presentation of the work undertaken, and Bexhill High School also received a certificate from APECS Promotions for the best presentation.

Sandy Melvin, chairman of Bexhill in Bloom, said: “The judges had a very difficult job deciding who the winner was and who should take second place.”

She thanked all those attending, with a special “thank you” to Bexhill High for sponsoring the venue and supplying refreshments.

Sandy announced details of the 2012 competition, which would celebrate the London Olympics. Entries can either be one large plot with five rings, or five smaller ringed plots, based on the Games’ famous logo.

Full details will be published later this year.