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.”

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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

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●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

●To catch up with the news in East London, go to:
East London News