PEOPLE who helped to make Basingstoke look blooming lovely in 2005 have been honoured at an awards ceremony.

Winners of the garden and photographic categories in the Basingstoke in Bloom competition attended a special event last Friday, hosted by deputy mayor Councillor Tony Jones, to pick up their trophies.

The competition, run by volunteers with the help of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, encourages local people to enhance the appearance of their local environment, by improving their own front gardens or frontages.

Elvina Parker, of Nightingale Rise, Overton, won first prize in the large/medium garden category after entering the competition for the first time.

She said: "A friend told me about the competition so I thought I would give it a go. I think anyone with a nice front garden should get involved."

Mrs Parker, 50, used a combination of herbaceous and evergreen plants in her garden and works hard to maintain it all year round.

"The criteria states that there must be interest in the garden all year round and use of a variety of plants and flowers," she explained. "There also has to be provision for wildlife - shelter for example."

The best kept street category was won by the residents of Battens Avenue in Overton, for the fifth year running.

All 17 houses in the street took part, maintaining beautiful hanging baskets and window boxes.

A school gardens category, focusing on the creative use of school grounds to aid children's learning, is also a big part of the competition.

Prizes for this category were presented by representatives from the BBC Gardeners' World Roadshow at the Basingstoke Flower and Vegetable Show in July.

Councillor Alison Wall, borough council Cabinet member for recreation and culture, said: "Basingstoke in Bloom is a borough-wide campaign to enhance the environment and to encourage the community to promote pride in our borough."

First published: Thursday, October 20, 2005