A midwife is among the winners in this year’s Thornton Heath in Bloom competition.

Marge Latimer, who works at Croydon University hospital won the best front garden category for this stunning floral array at her Ingram Road home (pictured right) in the Thornton Heath Community Action Team run competition – now in its fifth year. 

She beat stiff competition from Helena Charles, of Woodville Road who came second and Mary Curniffe, of Melfort Road in third. 

Covid guidelines about large gatherings meant the prize given ceremony had to be cancelled for this year and instead THCAT arranged ‘doorstep prize-givings’.

Chair of THCAT Linda Watson said: “What a great competition it has been in these challenging times- we were so delighted to receive 100 entries and have seen some stunning planting, making our area more welcoming and beautiful.”

This year’s judging panel included: Catherine Graham, Carolyn Crossley, Peter Lawrence, Graham Mitchell, 10-year-old Tiah Caesar and local teenagers Daniella Teibowei and Lucas Akrida.

Prizes included one year’s free council garden waste collection, along with vouchers from local businesses, a planter made by Neil Tanner and bird box crafted by local carpenter Clive Broughton.

Other prizes were donated by designer, Samantha Warren; Fireaway Pizza, Urban Guj cafe, Woodcote Green Garden Centre; YBR Cake; Steve Reed MP; Rambling Rose Garden Shop; Selhurst Co-op; photographer, Jess from hellorobinstudios; The Railway Telegraph; Tropical Fare off licence and Energie Fitness. 

Each first prize winner received a trophy and runners up certificates.

Concrete spaces: 1st – Rita Bethune, Burlington Road; 2nd – Maria Antunes, Alma Place and 3rd – Jo Bee, Kynaston Road 

THCAT street planters :1st – Sandra Lawrence and Michael Daniels, Crowland Road; 2nd – Kathy Malik, Alma Place and 3rd – Jane Lundy, Haslemere Road.

For the third year running Wilsons Garage on Beulah Road won the best floral business category ; 2nd – Cassland Road Community Garden and 3rd – Aski, Brigstock Road 

Children’s planting: 1st – Anna, Nathanael and Melchizedek, Bensham Lane; 2nd – Vania, Buller Road and
3rd – Samuel and Mary, Buxton Road.