SCORES of winners, runners-up, friends, and relatives attended this year’s Petersfield in Bloom competition awards evening.
The competition is run by Petersfield Town Council, and the council hosted the evening in the Festival Hall, off Heath Road.
The competition begins each year in late Spring, and judging takes place in July, with the winners named soon afterward.
The awards evening on Thursday, October 6, is the highlight of the competition, which has seen some entrants compete year-in-year-out for many years.
Those taking part include individual house holders, streets, schools, businesses, and community organisations such as Cubs.
A council spokesman said: “The award presentations were a great success, with over 65 people attending, either to receive their award, or to support the winners and the event.
“Petersfield mayor councillor James Deane presided over the evening.
“He announced the winners of each category, and the council was delighted to welcome back Petersfield In Bloom president, TV personality Pippa Greenwood, who presented most of the awards to the winners.”
One exception was the East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) award for the best floral display in ‘a street, or part of a street,’ which was presented by EHDC chairman Cllr David Ashcroft.
And Petersfield town councillor Mary Vincent presented the Jenny Turner Award, which this year was awarded to Petersfield Infant School.
The award donated by Jenny Turner, whose family connection to the town spans generations, recognises special effort.
The infant school pupils also helped present flowers to Pippa Greenwood, the mayor’s wife Annabel Deane, and Cllr Ashcroft’s colleague, Cllr Rebecca Standish.
The spokesman added: “It was very encouraging to see such a diversity of individuals, organisations and businesses taking part this year.
“Preparations for this year’s competition went very well, and the quality of the displays entered was very high indeed.
“I am sure the town would join us in thanking everyone, whether winners or not, in making an effort and taking the time to make Petersfield such a beautiful place during the summer months.
“The council hopes you will join us next year to make Petersfield in Bloom 2017 even better.”