Rectory Park customer Maria secures ‘Small Garden Innovator’ award for balcony garden
14 October 2024
A customer from Rectory Park in Northolt, London has been officially recognised for her beautiful balcony garden in our SNG In Bloom gardening competition. Maria Vasquez is ‘delighted’ at coming first in the ‘Small Garden Innovator category’ in our inaugural SNG in Bloom competition.
Our judges ruled that Maria innovatively utilised her balcony by showcasing blossoming greenery and plants. She won £200 in vouchers certificate and a trophy to mark her green fingered efforts.
Jamie Ratcliff (our Chief Communities and Sustainability Officer), Marta Rios (Community Investment and Partnership Manager) along with Lucy Davis (Community Investment and Partnership Lead) went along to Maria's home to deliver her trophy and see her horticultural endeavours.
On her win Maria commented: “This has been a journey that has lasted me around five years. It all started when I inherited a few plants from my Mum. Unfortunately, I didn’t care for them too well and they died so I set up a little challenge for myself to care for them a bit more. “I have a knack of taking a really small cutting and growing it into beautiful big plant and I really enjoy it. I grow my own tomatoes, courgettes, potatoes.
“My family helps with watering sometimes when I’m away and that keeps the plants alive. In the summer I like to buy some flowering plants, just to make the balcony a bit brighter and nicer and then in the winter I usually focus on my indoor plants and let them hibernate.”
Maria is among five budding gardeners and gardening groups from across London and the South of England who have been recognised in the SNG in Bloom competition. Indoor gardens, outdoor gardens, community gardens and green spaces were all considered for prizes.
Maria showing our Chief Communities and Sustainability Officer Jamie Ratcliff her plants
Maria holding her SNG in Bloom award with her mother Narciza
Maria showcasing her award with Jamie Ratcliff, Marta Rios (Community Investment and Partnerships Manager) and Lucy Davis (Community Investment and Partnerships Manager)
