Neighbourhood Gardening Awards
Northampton’s community gardeners, school groups and neighbourhood volunteers have been celebrated at a special awards ceremony at the Guildhall, and the list of winners is packed with green spaces well worth knowing about.
Community groups and schools from across Northampton have been recognised for their efforts in creating greener, brighter and more welcoming neighbourhoods at an awards ceremony held at the historic Northampton Guildhall last week.
A total of 24 community groups and six schools participated in this year’s ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ community gardening scheme, taking on projects to improve local green spaces through planting, gardening and environmental initiatives. They received their awards from the Deputy Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Enam Haque.
Led by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and delivered in partnership with East Midlands in Bloom, the scheme is coordinated locally by Northampton Town Council. The town council supports participating groups with small start-up grants, while helping them share ideas, build connections and benefit from mutual support.
During July and August, RHS assessors visited each project to recognise the work taking place and assess community involvement, environmental responsibility and gardening achievement. Groups also received valuable feedback and advice to help them develop their projects further.
This year’s awards were particularly special, following Northampton’s success in securing Gold in the East Midlands in Bloom competition. Many of the community projects contributed to the town’s entry, demonstrating the important role that volunteers, community groups and schools play in making Northampton a better place.
Councillor Andrew Kilbride, Chair of the Environmental Services Committee at Northampton Town Council, said: “The groups who have taken part in this year’s scheme have shown real commitment to making their neighbourhoods better places to live, and we are delighted to celebrate the difference they have made through these awards.
“Each project has its own character and brings something special to the local community. From enhancing the environment and supporting biodiversity to building community pride, bringing residents together and helping people develop new skills and confidence, these initiatives have a lasting and positive impact.
“This year we welcomed nine new groups to the scheme and six schools, which was the highest number in the whole East Midlands region.”
The following community groups received recognition:
- 78 Derngate
- Abington Vale Residents
- Bees Be Happy URC Church, The Headlands
- C2C Grows Kingsthorpe Allotment
- Ekins Close Communal Gardens
- Eleanore House
- Friends of Abington Park
- Friends of Billing Road Cemetery
- Friends of Bradlaugh Fields & Barn
- Friends of Dallington Park ‘Secret Garden’
- Friends of Eastfield Park
- Friends of St. Peters Marefair
- Garden in the Park, The Racecourse
- Green Spaces Semilong
- Hope in the Community
- Holly Road & East Park Parade Residents Association
- Indian Hindu Welfare Organisation Chai & Chat, Weston Favell Parish Hall
- Northampton L.I.V.E, Abington Park
- Old Billing Lane Community Garden
- Northampton Ramgarhia Board, Regent Street
- Restore’s Allotment Grow Project, Weston Favell
- St. Matthew’s Sensory Garden, part of Sports4Fitness, Fernie Field, Moulton
- South Court Environmental Ltd, Abington Lodge
- St. Giles Community St Giles’ Churchyard
Inspiring the next generation of gardeners
Six Northampton schools were also recognised for their achievements, demonstrating how gardening can support learning, environmental awareness, wellbeing and a sense of pride in their school surroundings:
- Parklands Primary
- Briar Hill Primary
- Headlands Primary
- St Mary’s RC Primary
- Standerns Barn Primary
- Greenfields Specialist School
Special awards
The ceremony also celebrated several additional achievements, recognising outstanding contributions to community gardening, environmental improvement and education:
- Greenfields Specialist School – regional Overall Secondary School Winner
- St Giles’ Community and C2C Grows Kingsthorpe Allotment – National Certificate of Distinction recipients and Most Inspiring It’s Your Neighbourhood Award finalists
- Bees Be Happy project coordinator – Northampton in Bloom Judges’ Award
- The Wheatsheaf Pub Dallington – Floral Awards pub category
- Castle Park – regional Best New Permanent Landscape Award
The Women’s Institute were also thanked for their contribution to the event by providing knitted women farmers, agricultural items and food.
Entries for next year’s scheme are now open, with groups able to register until the end of May 2027. Assessments will take place between June and August 2027. Those taking part benefit from an annual visit from an RHS assessor, guidance from experienced mentors and access to a nationwide network of community gardening groups.
Community groups and schools interested in getting involved can contact Northampton Town Council by emailing: bloom@northamptontowncouncil.gov.uk
More information is also available on the town council’s website: www.northamptontowncouncil.gov.uk/its-your-neighbourhood-scheme
If all of this has you wanting to get outside with the kids, grab my free nature scavenger hunt, browse our guide to country parks in Northamptonshire, or find plenty more ideas in my guide to things to do in Northamptonshire for families.
