IT WAS ALL bloomin’ marvellous at the annual Tower Hamlets in Blooom awards 2024, as residents flocked to ceremony to see individual residents and community groups recognised for their horticultural skills.
Gardeners help to make the borough a brighter and healthier place – and they deserve more recognition for their contributions. There’s not many gardens in Tower Hamlets – over 80% of our homes are flats – so gardeners have grown skilled at finding spaces they can tend.
Recognising their work, Cllr Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor, admitted, “I was amazed at the high standards of all this year’s Tower Hamlets in Bloom entrants and participants. This annual event demonstrates how horticulture brings communities together and motivates us to make positive changes through environmental and community action.”
Cllr Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, said, “We are grateful to all those who generously give their time, energy and expertise to positive change our open spaces into better and brighter places for everyone to enjoy.”
Award winners
Children’s Garden Columbia Market Nursery School Bygrove Primary School & Phoenix School Bigland Primary School
Communal Residential Garden Joint – Lady Micos Almshouses & Wollen House (Pat Quinn) Sandhurst House Wolsey Street (P Moore, J. Aktar) Joint – Emmott Close Day Centre / Emmott Close Nell Beatie & Peter Zitman
Community Garden Russia Lane Day Centre – Deborah McDonald John Schuster – Wapping Wildlife Garden Bromley By Bow Centre – Adult Education
Community Growing Site Joint – Cranbrook Community Garden / Rocky Park Approach Garden Swedenborg Orchard (Geina Leontowitsch)
Education Establishment St Mary & St Michael Catholic Primary School Joint Lansbury Lawerence Primary School / Phoenix School Joint – John Scurr Primary School & Elizabeth Selby Primary School
Best Balcony Andrea Silva Goncalves Juan Martin Garces Joint – Kaniz Rimu / Sarah Dodd
Best Allotment John and Helen Tarby Richard Howard Elias Miah
Front Garden Sally Crane Keeley Venebles Joint – Gail Steves / Mitchell & Joanne Lee
Patio / Container Garden Kate Kensit Pam Holland Joint – Carol & Keith Morton / Gillian Dolby
Wildlife – Single Pat Rowe Susan Caldwell Joint – Gail Stevens & Vera Kitzler
Wildlife – Group Approach Gardens Joint – Cable Street Community Gardens / St Mary & Michael Catholic Primary School Joint – Cranbrook Community Food Garden / Wapping Wildlife Garden (John Schuster)
Best Innovation Wapping Wildlife Garden (John Schuster) – a plastic folder full of worksheets hanging from a tree for children to take on and fill it in as they walk round the garden. He’s now produced a complete nature pack for children with several worksheets, a pencil and magnifying glass included all in a smart folder.
Best Newcomer – Individual Asma Begum For encouraging nature and biodiversity within an urban environment. Asma demonstrates a real feel for all things green. Judges were highly impressed with her knowledge and love for Dahlia`s.
Best Newcomer – Group Queen Mary University of London library garden (Stavros Fotiadis) – Wildlife Group A lovely peaceful garden in the middle of the ever-busy Whitechapel area.
Contribution to London in Bloom Rocky Park Phoenix School Canary Wharf PLC Lady Micos Almshouses Tower Hamlets Cemtery Park Victoria Park
Outstanding Community Contribution Columbia Primary School (for Baxendale Community Garden and Forest School) Friends of Ropemakers Fields Friends of Mile End Park
Recognition of Excellence Award Farid Narnia (Green Team, Senior Arboriculture Officer) Kenneth Greenway (Tower Hamlets Cemtery Park)
Judges’ Choice St Mary & St Michael Catholic Primary School
Overall, Winner – Individual Sally Crane (Front Garden Winner) Located on the Isle of Dogs, off of a quiet street, this winner isn’t new to us. Another year they impressed the judges with a burst of summer colours maximizing every inch of their planters for simply a beautiful front garden. The selection of plants, from bold, statement flowers to delicate, subtle foliage, creates a harmonious balance that cannot go missed. Their dedication to eco-friendly materials and water-efficient plants, making this not just a visual masterpiece but an environmentally conscious space as well, and definite winner for the bees. Once again, the care and expertise of the gardener shine through, making this front garden a true standout.
Overall, Winner – Group Rocky Park Growers (Community Growing Site) The Rocky Park Urban Growers have cultivated not only an impressive array of plants but also a strong sense of community spirit. Through their hard work and dedication, they’ve transformed a once underutilized space into a thriving urban garden, offering locals the chance to connect with nature and learn about sustainable growing practices. From seasonal vegetables to fragrant herbs and vibrant flowers, the garden is a testament to their knowledge and passion for horticulture. This group’s commitment goes beyond just growing food – they’re fostering a deeper sense of belonging and environmental awareness among their neighbours.
Gardener of the Year Award John Schuster – Vaughan Way
Lifetime Achievement Award Margeret Wilson Approach Gardens
●Applications for Tower Hamlets in Bloom 2025 are now open. Judging will take place next summer. To enter and for more information, go to: Tower Hamlets in Bloom 2025
●Read more about it: More stories about Tower Hamlets in Bloom