The Emmaus Merseyside gardening team has scooped multiple category awards after exhibiting at their first flower show.
On Saturday 2 July, volunteers and members of the Emmaus Merseyside community won 11 prizes at the 100th Ainsdale Summer Show, hosted by Ainsdale Horticultural Society. The prizes included category wins for their gooseberries, raspberries, rhubarb and Hosta, all grown from the Emmaus Merseyside community garden in Seaforth.
Janet Hopwood, one of the gardening volunteers at Emmaus Merseyside, said: “It was a great day. A fellow volunteer and I got there at what felt like the middle of the night, but was actually about 7am, to torrential rain! After stewarding for the beginning of the show, we were assigned to the refreshment tent and the sun came out – yippee! Then the crowds came in and I’ve never seen so many people queueing for lunch.
“At 4pm I went to watch the dog displays which were extremely funny. After that we waited for Stewart in the Emmaus van to pick up the spoils. All in all the Ainsdale Summer Show was an exhausting but exhilarating day.”
The 100th edition of the Ainsdale Summer Show, postponed for the past two years, included a full programme of events, exhibits, music, activities and stalls. The main marquee was filled with plants, fruit, vegetables, handicraft, floral art and photographs exhibited by local growers, creatives and craftspeople.
Growing together
Emmaus Merseyside is an award-winning charity that provides a home, training, work opportunities and individual support to people who have experienced homelessness. The charity’s on-site community garden is managed by a team of local volunteers alongside formerly homeless people supported by Emmaus.
Marc Bamber, Chief Operating Officer at Emmaus Merseyside, said: “We’re very pleased to receive these awards, recognising the quality of produce and plants grown at Emmaus Merseyside. It has been a big team effort and I would like to give massive thanks to the many people who put so much time, effort and care into growing at our Seaforth community.”
Find out more about the roles on offer and get involved with Emmaus Merseyside.