Entries Open For Nelmac Garden Marlborough Community Awards

Entries Open For the Nelmac Garden Marlborough Community Awards

New Zealand’s premier gardening event, Nelmac Garden Marlborough, this week announced the return of its Community Awards as a part of the 2013 event.

Nelmac Garden Marlborough is seeking to recognize and reward local communities who share its vision of promoting public interest in gardening. Categories include a Schools Edible Garden Award and the Street Awards, this year including Commercial Gardens, Senior and Retirement Home Communal Gardens and Residential Streets.

“We know that there are a lot of people in Marlborough putting a lot of time and effort into promoting gardening and beautifying their surroundings, and we want to celebrate and reward their efforts” says President Jeremy Jones.

One of the areas of special interest is schools that are educating children about the importance of edible gardens and the benefits of fresh seasonal food. The Marlborough District Council has a long-standing edible gardens scheme and welcomed the approach from the Nelmac Garden Marlborough organizing committee earlier this year and assisted in sending information about the awards out to local schools.

“We have a wonderfully successful edible gardens scheme right here in Marlborough, with many schools already having an established garden” explains Monique Fouwler, Event Coordinator for Nelmac Garden Marlborough, “but these awards are open to all schools in Marlborough, whether they already have an established garden or not. We encourage all schools to enter and hope these annual awards will recognize the efforts made to encourage pupils to develop skills that lead to healthy living.”

The winner will receive a prize package consisting of garden product and manpower to assist in the project of their choice, generously donated by Bunnings Warehouse in Blenheim. Schools will receive their application forms in the mail this month or can contact the Nelmac Garden Marlborough office on 03 577 5500.

The return of the Street Awards in 2013 includes a couple of new categories, Best Retirement Home Communal Garden and Best Senior (70yrs plus) Garden. Garden Marlborough committee member Cllr Jenny Andrews, suggested the categories recognizing that Marlborough is home to many skilled and active senior gardeners. “The committee unanimously agreed that this group of experts deserved a separate category and we’re hoping to encourage a great many nominations this year”. Sponsors for the Street Awards, Bayleys Real Estate Marlborough, will assist in scouting the length and breadth of Marlborough for shining examples of well planted and maintained commercial frontages and residential streets.

Nominations for the Street Awards can be made directly to the Nelmac Garden Marlborough office at info@gardenmarlborough.co.nz or Bayleys Marlborough office. Winners will be announced at the Stihl Shop Garden Fete on Sunday 10 November.

ENDS

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