AN award-winning garden centre has donated plants to businesses in Colchester for an exciting city centre garden festival.
Perrywood Garden Centre in Tiptree has been involved in this year’s Colchester Garden Festival, organised by Our Colchester Business Improvement District.
The city was decorated in colourful floral displays as businesses filled their shop windows with flowers to be judged as part of the annual competition.
The garden centre supported the event in 2022 and this year have donated the plants and compost for the businesses involved in the upcycling competition.
The centre also gave 15 schools in the area a £30 Perrywood voucher to buy plants for their school gardening project displays which are located at the Jumbo Watertower, which is also part of the Colchester Garden Festival.
Perrywood’s senior communications manager, Louise Smith visited all the businesses which took part to judge the winning display.
She was joined by last year’s winner Kierston Donohue, the owner of Victoria Yum Bakery, Jess Walker from Our Colchester and Lee Connelly, also known as Skinny Jean Gardener.
Louise said: “It was fantastic to see how the shop owners have been creative and enjoyed participating.
“It’s been fun wandering through the city spotting the colourful botanical displays.
“While judging, I met with many participants, all keen and enthusiastic to show off their masterpieces.
“A lot of hard work has gone into the festival, the floral painted shop windows and many displays and gardens have been appreciated by visitors to the city.”
Marketing executive at BID, Jess Walker said: “We are very grateful for Perrywood Garden Centres' continued support for the Colchester Garden Festival.
“Their generous donation of plants for the business’s upcycled window displays allows the whole city to have the opportunity to get involved in the festival.
“We’re very proud of the displays that have been created this year, there has been some wonderful community involvement.
“The school gardening project is a key component of the Garden Festival and the support of Perrywood with this is invaluable.
“The Colchester Garden Festival is on until August 17 with lots of free family activities.
“If you would like to find out more and take part please visit the InColchester website.”
You can vote for your favourite business display or school garden via the Colchester Garden Festival website.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here