Hartlepool couple vow to party with neighbours after winning Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association gardening contest
A couple who won a housing association gardening competition just a year after moving into their home are going to use their winnings to provide a Christmas to remember for their neighbours.
Peter and Susan Hay, from Ryehill Gardens, Hartlepool, have worked hard to transform their gardens by planting lots of colourful flowers and shrubs.
Their efforts have paid dividends because they have won the title of best garden in the Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association (DAMHA) annual gardening competition.
It follows an online judging process involving DAMHA staff and board members at which people were asked to rate their favourite gardens based on the photographs supplied.
Peter and Susan said they were shocked but delighted when they discovered their garden had won the £50 first prize.
They said: “We wouldn’t describe ourselves as gardeners, but we wanted to do our bit to make this lovely housing scheme we live in even nicer, so it’s amazing to win.
“There’s a fantastic community spirit at Ryehill Gardens and we have already told our friends and neighbours that we will be donating the money we won to put towards our Christmas party at the end of the year.”
DAMHA chief executive Paul Mullis said: “We couldn’t be happier that Mr and Mrs Hay have won at the first attempt and to subsequently learn about his generosity when it comes donating their prize to the resident Christmas party.
“The judges were very impressed by the work they had done in their garden and it’s heartening to see people like them taking so much pride in their home and surroundings.
“They are thoroughly deserving winners."