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Date: 14^thAugust 2017 

Gardens bloom for competition judges

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Poor weather over the last couple of weeks hasn't prevented a bumper crop of entries to this year's Gardens Competition organised by Stafford's largest provider of affordable homes.

Over the past week, judges have been dodging the showers to inspect the efforts of green-fingered customers of Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH).

This year the judging team was joined by David Wheat, the son of former SARH board member Shirley Wheat. After many years service to the housing association, Shirley sadly passed away last year and now has an award category named in her honour.

"Mum would have been delighted at the quality of the gardens on show," said David, who works at SARH as a Project Surveyor. "As a keen gardener herself, she'd also be made up to see me volunteering to help with the judging.

"You can really see the hard work and dedication that's gone into making these gardens look their best and although it will be difficult deciding on the winners, I've really enjoyed being part of this fantastic competition."

The winners will be announced at a special event at SARH's headquarters at Parker Court later this month when awards will be presented in a range of categories for front and back gardens, allotments and other floral features as well as the Shirley Wheat award for Best Communal Garden and Young Gardener of the Year.

Caption: David is pictured here (left) inspecting a communal garden at Lichfield Court, Stafford, with fellow judges David Hughes, SARH Customer Board member and Chairman of Doxey Parish Council and Chris Brown, a gardener with award sponsors Streetscene, part of Stafford Borough Council.

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About Stafford and Rural Homes

Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) is the largest social landlord in Stafford with around 6,000 homes across Stafford, Stone and the rural villages across the Borough. Established in 2006 to own and manage the former Stafford Borough Council housing stock, SARH set up a trading subsidiary company Housing Worx, to deliver planned maintenance works to its properties and fulfil commercial contracts in 2012. SARH also offers 18 Independent Living schemes for people aged over 55 and an award winning Telecare home safety and personal security system for the elderly and vulnerable. SARH has invested more than £100 million on improvement and regeneration programmes and building over 500 high quality new homes for rent and shared ownership which have benefited SARH customers by improving neighbourhoods and creating job opportunities for local people. The housing association works in partnership with local authorities, health trusts, statutory bodies and a range of voluntary organisations to create safe, sustainable communities where residents can ‘Live, Work and Grow'.

Follow SARH on Twitter@SARHomes

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