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Date: 20^thMarch 2017 

Arrival of spring sees launch of annual gardening competition

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This week sees the official start of spring and, to mark the start of the new season, Stafford's leading provider of affordable homes is urging customers to start planting in preparation for its popular Garden Competition.

The annual contest, organised by Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH), sees dozens of local residents open up their gardens to a team of judges to show off their gardening skills in a range of categories.

Laura MacPhee, Customer Engagement Advisor at SARH, said: "The Garden Awards give us the chance to recognise and support the efforts our customers are making to improve the area they live in, whilst encouraging them to get active and out in the fresh air.

"Now that spring has arrived, this is the ideal time to get into the garden for a general tidy-up, and to start planning for the summer season."

The competition has proved extremely popular in the past with customers hoping to win prizes in categories covering window boxes, communal areas and borders, as well as traditional front and back gardens. There will also be prizes for the best allotments, supporting an award-winning initiative that has encouraged dozens of local residents to improve their diet, exercise and meet up with their neighbours by growing their own vegetables.

"Organised by SARH in partnership with the Borough Council, the Growing Health initiative has proved a huge success. As a result we expect the Best Allotment category to be one of the most competitive, with many community groups involved as well as individual SARH customers," Laura said.

The competition is open to all SARH customers in communities across Stafford, Stone and surrounding areas. The deadline for entries this year is Thursday, July 27, with judging taking place in the week commencing August 2. The winners will be announced during a special awards event on Thursday, August 17.

Karen Armitage, SARH Chief Executive, commented: "The Garden Competition is one of the highlights of our year, and, as the days begin to get longer and the weather starts to warm up, I'm sure our green-fingered customers are planning some really spectacular displays."

SARH customers can apply online atwww.sarh.co.uk/gardencompetitionwhere they can also find a full list of categories, and they can also nominate anyone who lives in a SARH property for an award, including the ever-popular Young Gardener of the Year.

Caption:Pictured: Jake (centre) and Dennis Rock were presented with the Young Gardener of the Year Award in 2016 by Chris Poulton, Executive Director of Operations at SARH.

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Editor's Notes

Media contact:

Martin Farrow

CHANGEWORKS Communications
t:  + 44 (0) 1785 247588

m: +44 (0)7771 970025

e: mfarrow@changeworkscom.co.uk

Stafford and Rural Homes contact:

Mara Hargreaves
Marketing Manager

t:01785 216793 (Direct) 

m:07800 619 863 (Mobile)  

e:mara.hargreaves@sarh.co.uk