A TOTTINGTON gardener said she felt 'tree-mendous' after winning first prize in this year's Bury In Bloom competition.

Eda Hulmes, aged 62, from Moss Side, Tottington, grabbed the best private garden award at a ceremony hosted by Bury Metro's Parks and Open Spaces Officer Martin Hathaway, in Bury Town Hall's Elizabethan Suite on Tuesday.

Her flowering glory came after a nail-biting few moments as the runners-up were announced in reverse order.

Mrs Hulmes, who has 192 pots of plants and flowers in her garden, said: "I was absolutely delighted because I came to the awards not knowing if I had won. I've put a lot of effort into the garden - I planted everything myself."

Bury couple Krystyna and Richard Stasiak came second, with Bill and Margaret Dutson, third, and Annie Cockcroft, fourth.

Green-fingered pupils at Elms Bank High School, on Ripon Avenue, also had cause to celebrate after they helped the school's sensory garden grow into a prize winner.

The eye-catching garden, now recovering from an attack by vandals, scooped top slot in this year's Best School category. It is the product of more than four years of hard work by pupils and teachers, creating an area rich with plants and flowers, that appeals to each of the five senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch.

Headteacher Ms Lynn Lines: "We were delighted to hear that we'd won. It was a great surprise. The children and teachers have worked very hard on the garden and it has been encouraging to see."

Bury's deputy mayor, Councillor Connie Fitzgerald, praised all of the entrants for brightening up the borough.

She said: "It's good to see the amount of time and effort the people of Bury put into making the town a brighter place. It ensures that not everyone is all doom and gloom."

The Bury Times award, presented by advertisement director Philip Wheelhouse, was reserved for the Built Environment Group which was praised for its efforts in brightening up the community.

And there were awards of appreciation for sponsors Summerseat Garden Centre, the Bury Times Group and Bury Metro.

Guest speaker Mike Kinsella, manager of Business Environment Association Groundwork, said: "All of the entrants really add a lot of colour to the town and it's great to see them making a contribution."

ZElaine Shirt, chairman of Bury Built Environment Group, is pictured receiving a blooming good award from Philip Wheelhouse, Bury Times Group Advertisement Director.

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