Winners of First Prize!

Two members of the Aldersbrook Horticultural Society/Aldersbrook Medical Centre Patient Participation Group (AHS/AMC PPG) gardeners, were delighted to be invited to attend the Redbridge in Bloom Awards on September 26th at Valentine Mansion, Ilford.

Whilst the group were aware that they were finalist, it wasn’t until the dramatic announcements of, third, second and then, finally first that the two attendees realised that they were overall winners.

Jane and Alison of the AHS and AMC PPG groups were delighted to receive their Trowel Trophy, presented by Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Sheila Bain, as winners of the Best Community Display in Redbridge.

The origins of the group date back to 2018 when local residents, inspired by the Open Gardens event, formed the Aldersbrook Horticultural Society. Part of the AHS brief is community gardening. About the same time Richmond Road Gp Practice took on the contract for the Aldersbrook Medical Centre and our Gp services started to improve. Richmond Road also had a brief to engage with the local community and community groups to enhance health and well-being and a successful partnership was born.

The Aldersbrook Medical Centre garden has been transformed and is a welcoming front door to the Gp practice. After the lockdown of 2020/2021, trees were planted and a plaque installed in memory of those who had not survived COVID19.

We maintain the garden with monthly workshops run by our volunteer members.