TWO Oswestry groups have been rated as outstanding in awards for promoting community benefits for their area through gardening and working with plants.
The Royal Horticultural Society's nationwide 'In Your Neighbourhood' initiative aims to spark and support gardening projects that focus on people-participation and the regeneration of otherwise unused or neglected land.
Almost any outdoor site being looked after by volunteers qualifies for the scheme.
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The local recipients in the West Midlands regional event – covering a huge area from North Staffordshire to Gloucestershire – were OsNosh and Gobowen’s Derwen College.
The day's compere, Oswestry's James Bond, announced the results in front of around 200 guests at Holme Lacy near Hereford.
He said he was delighted to be able to be there for the win because of his intimate knowledge of the two groups who he has worked with many times before.
"I was delighted to see two such worthy award-winners that I know well from my own town," he said.
"There's a happy band of volunteers who work at each of them, on the OsNosh community garden, and supporting those young adults with special educational needs in the college gardens and market place.
"Everyone involved benefits from company, co-operation, and the satisfaction of knowing they've achieved something worthwhile."
After visiting both schemes, the IYN judges were impressed enough to rate them as "outstanding" and "thriving."
The OsNosh community garden – led by Lesley Wills – has been established on the land around the old Oak Street youth centre.
It now boasts a mass of fruit and vegetables that are used on the menu for twice-weekly community lunches.
The fare can also be picked for free by local people.
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The Derwen garden centre helps provide food for the site's restaurant and cafe, with the students learning vocational skills at the heart of growing and selling.
Nursery manager Paul Moss said the award was well received by he and his colleagues at the College in Gobowen which works with young people with special education needs and disabilities.
He said: "I know everyone at the Derwen will be so proud of this award."
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