The Middleton Hall Retirement Village Estates team added to the extensive medal haul they have achieved over the years with a Silver Gilt Award in the Small Village category at the prestigious Northumbria in Bloom Awards 2023.
In their summary comments the Northumbria in Bloom judges noted the ‘meticulously maintained’ lawns and ‘wide range of mature plants and trees, complemented by wetlands and natural habitats’ which the 45-acre estate incorporates.
The Environment category of the award achieved a Gold medal, with the wetland area and ‘abundance of water plants and new fish’ in the Waterside lake and the grass walk ‘buzzing with insect life’ cited as highlights by the judges.
Judges commented in the Horticulture section of the award on the ‘high’ presentation of the estate overall, listing the bird hide, Japanese garden, Waterside lake and the redevelopment of the area in front of the allotments as ‘outstanding areas’. The completion of the Ceramic Garden, the enhanced development of the Japanese Garden and main entrance circular bed were all singled out for congratulations.
The Winter Garden, which was described as ‘a pleasurable surprise’ along with the greenhouse and outside beds having been ‘transformed with plenty of produce and a promising grape harvest’ and ‘room for the guidance of residents taking cuttings and potting on plants’, were also highlighted as achievements.
In the Community category, amongst the achievements noted by the judges were the ‘excellent’ facilities for residents and ‘variety of interests in which they can participate’.
Andrew Gatiss, Middleton Hall Retirement Village’s Estates Manager, said: “We’re very pleased to have our achievements recognised. Being awarded a Gold medal in the Environment category is something the team is especially proud of as sustainability is at the heart of everything we do on the estate.
“All the credit must go to the Estates team who are passionate about what they do and work incredibly hard to keep the estate looking as impressive as possible.”