Ref:PRSH278.                                                                                                      Date: 9th September 2019

Garden haven for wildlife receives recognition from SARH

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Creating a safe haven for newts, dragonflies and even a rare native reptile has earned a Stafford householder a prestigious award from the area's leading provider of affordable places to live, Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH).

Nikki Candin from Doxey, Stafford, scooped top honours in the Best Wildlife or Eco Garden category in the housing association's annual Garden Competition.

Judged on the hottest day of 2019, the popular competition aims to celebrate the green-fingered skills of SARH customers who have made the most of their own garden or transformed communal areas to create beautiful spaces for all to enjoy.

Nikki, who became a SARH customer earlier this year when her home of 17 years was acquired by the housing association as part of a wider agreement with theClarion Housing Group, said she was delighted at winning an award at her first attempt.

"We've always tried to attract wildlife into the garden and avoided using any pesticides, but after installing a pond we've seen frogs, newts, lots of insect species and even a slow worm," Nikki said.

"When we spotted the competition on the SARH website we thought it would be a good opportunity to let people know just how many species can make a garden their home, but we never expected to win!"

Nikki received her award during aspecial event at the housing association's headquarters in Parker Court, Stafford, where she was joined by dozens of other SARH customers, representatives of competition sponsors and the Mayors and Mayoresses of Stafford and Stone.

Guests at the event also enjoyed a talk by David Moreton, General Manager at Oak Tree Farm Rural Project  a recent recipient of a SARH C.A.R.E.S grant to help its work with around 60 people with learning disabilities.The SARH C.A.R.E.S Foundation was formed to support projects and groups in and around the Stafford Borough that help some of the most vulnerable in the community and welcomes bids from community projects and groups.

Other awards presented on the day included:

• Best Lawn - Mr Hendrie, Hixon
• Best Front Garden - Mr and Mrs Murfin, Great Haywood
• Best Back Garden - Mr and Mrs Jarratt, Stafford
• Most Creative Use of Space - Peter Ferrari, Stafford
• Best Allotment Plot/Veg Garden - Shelley Mathias, Barlaston
• Young Gardener - Alisha Robinson, Stafford, and Jake Rock, Stone
• Shirley Wheat Award for Best Communal Garden -Flaxman Close, Stafford
• Community Gardener of the Year - James Brown, Barlaston

All winners received a £50 voucher for B&Q and Nikki says she will use hers to start work on improvements to her front garden.

Presenting the awards,SARH Chief Executive Karen Armitage said the competition was one of the highlights of the organisation's calendar.

"It really does give us the chance to engage with customers who share our vision of creating places to live, work and grow," Karen said.

"Every year the standard gets higher and this year the judges have faced some very difficult decisions. A huge well done to all who took part."

Caption:Best Wildlife or Eco Garden winner Nikki Candinand her partner James pictured with SARH Chief Executive Karen Armitage.  

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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, SARHset up a trading subsidiary company Housing Worx, to deliver planned maintenance works to its properties and fulfil commercial contracts in 2012. SARHalso offers 18 Independent Living schemes for people aged over 55 andan 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. A Community Benefit Society (CBS), the housing association has pledged tobuild or acquire 900 new homes by 2021 andworks 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 and Communications Manager
t:01785 216793 (Direct) 
m:07800 619 863 (Mobile)  
e:mara.hargreaves@sarh.co.uk