Garden Organic has congratulated Master Gardeners for winning awards at the this year’s National Masters Conference at Ryton Gardens on the 30 June.

Independent judges looked through a record high for the number of nominations from fellow volunteers, as well as their mentored households and proud co-ordinators.

One judge said: “a pleasure and inspirational – FANTASTIC”

The awards were kindly presented by BBC Blue Peter gardener, Chris Collins

Of course every volunteer is stunning. Every volunteer finds their own way to excite communities into growing and sharing food. In fact, the programme team like nothing more than chatting with Master Gardeners about successes and challenges. Thank you to everyone.

Please click here to read about the Master Gardener role and here for case studies

Visit the award-winning Master Composters too…

The Individual Master Gardener Achievement Award

This award was given to an individual Master Gardener who has gone beyond expectation in his/her promotional activities, either due to the amount of time or effort that they have devoted to their volunteering or the exceptional results that they have achieved.

3rd place:	Mike Wohl – Islington Master Gardener
2nd place:	Helen Kelly – Warwickshire Master Gardener
1ST PLACE:	Anita Gracie – Islington Master Gardener Anita Gracie Anita is described as passionate about growing and sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with other people. She has done this engaging a wide range of people from all backgrounds and ages, from primary school children to elders in their 80s. A particular success has been encouraging Caribbean elders to get involved.

The Group Master Gardener Achievement Award

This award was given to a group of Master Gardeners that have shown how the whole can be more than the sum of its parts by forming an effective and cohesive group, which has helped to either improve the efficiency of a scheme or had a particularly significant impact locally.

3rd place:	Flagship workshop, Norfolk Master Gardeners
2nd place:	Warwickshire Master Gardeners
1ST PLACE:	Shirley D’oyley & Sue Newcombe – Mablethorpe Community Garden – Lincolnshire Master Gardeners Co-ordinator Rick collecting on behalf of Shirley & Sue Against the odds, including having no running water on site, Shirley and Sue have worked wonders. They have encourage families into growing on the site, including encourage children from the travelling community to grow there too. They have clocked up over 120 volunteering hours in 12 months. They have both constantly done over and above what is expected!

The Master Gardener Innovation Award

This award recognises innovation by either an individual or a group within the Master Gardener programme. Innovative ideas come in many forms, but the judges will look particularly favourably upon those ideas that have the potential to be replicated across other schemes.

2nd place:

Keith Wellsted – Warwickshire Master Gardener

1ST PLACE:

Nigel Boldero – Norfolk Master Gardener Nigel Boldero Nigel became a Master Gardener in September 2011 and has already registered over 34 hours and spoken to over 150 people. He wins this award for his regular email to his households, to which he attaches factsheets, links to useful sites suited to their specific goals and topical stories from the Master Gardener website. It is a simple but very effective way of getting information to his households.

The ‘Masters’ Award

This award recognises exceptional achievement by a volunteer – possibly supporting both the Master Composter and Master Gardener programmes or simply acting as an inspiration to others through their efforts in either scheme. Someone who has already been nominated for the Achievement Award can also be put forward for this award.

3rd place:	Malcolm Nobbs – Buckinghamshire Master Composter
2nd place:	John & Sandy Young – Warwickshire Master Composters & Master Gardeners
1ST PLACE:	Kate Daly – South London Master Gardener Kate Daly As a Master Gardener Kate has been helping at Streatham Common Community Garden) since 2011. They said “she is always so willing to help us out – attending meetings, gardening days and running sessions”. She is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She goes beyond the call of duty – doing research for us, picking up plants and compost, and sharing information. The group added: “Her patience and kind-heartedness must also be noted – as with most groups just starting out, we have been a bit of a shambles at times – but she has stuck by us!” The garden group now have 170 people signed up and Kate will be instrumental in getting them all growing!. Read more about Kate

Click here to read more about Garden Organic’s National Masters Conference 2012

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