Herm gardeners Brett Moore and James Cordingley attended the Floral Guernsey awards ceremony along with Herm teacher, Mary Carey and two of the school pupils Knight brothers William, 10 and Charlie, 8.
The schools award went to Herm School for their tomato growing project and the butterfly garden grown by the children. Mrs Carey explained to the audience that the eight school children (whose age range from 5 - 10 years) learnt all about growing tomatoes through planting them and by getting information from books and the internet. In May the children won a prize for their Liberation Day paintings. The subject was 'Guernsey through the ages'. Each child did a painting depicting tomatoes in a particular decade.
The end of term performance for parents and friends was 'Harry Potter and the Guernsey tomato'. During the performance the audience learnt all sorts of interesting facts about tomatoes. Did you know that tomatoes are a good hangover cure? Did you also know that tomatoes mixed with natural yoghurt makes a good face pack?
Charlie and William Knight performing an excerpt of their end of term performance about aphids and ladybirds. Herm teacher, Mary Carey looks on.Herm Island also won the award for the best local environment. This includes being a litter-free island and being aware of our environment. Herm last won this award in 2000 and 2001 so we are pleased to have the trophy back (a copper watering can) for another year.
The parish of St Martin's was the overall winner of the 2007 Floral Guernsey Community Competition. They just pipped Herm to first place by a few points but both St Martin's and Herm were given Silver Gilt awards. Both Brett and James, who have been working together for only 7 months, were thrilled to be awarded with a silver gilt. They are already planning next year's gardening projects!
James and Brett receiving the Silver Gilt award in the Floral Guernsey community competition.
For those readers who like things 'floral; the Guernsey autumn floral festival week takes place from 6 - 13 October 2007. There will be special visitors, talks and events including community groups walk and talk with Britain in bloom judge Jim Buttress on October 8th.