Or that’s what it felt like when photographing the Young Green Fingers awards for Bury in Bloom at the Athenaeum in Bury St. Edmunds at the beginning of October. Yup, loads of children (not surprising really I guess – the awards title is rather a give-away) and amazingly all (well almost all – a bit of gurning did go on from one lad who shall remain nameless. He was however forgiven as he was such good entertainment value) were very well-behaved and all extremely proud of what they and their schools had achieved over the past year.
Joe Swift, the garden designer, journalist and television personality – he is one of the current presenters of Gardener’s World – was on hand to offer encouragement and photo opportunities before moving on to present his one-man show ‘A Man About the Garden’ at the Apex venue nearby (and very good it was too, I’m told). Haven’t told my mother-in-law yet that I met Joe as I’m not sure I will be forgiven for failing to get his autograph for her.
The afternoon was a lovely celebration of schools gardening with eight Suffolk schools taking part and awards being presented by local company Treatt. With over two hundred parents, teachers and pupils attending, this was Bury in Bloom’s last big event of the year although I am still keeping busy photographing hanging baskets, planting schemes and roundabouts (the latter planted up by various sponsors) when I’m out and about in the town.
Anyway here are a few photos from the afternoon and I think you’ll agree that a good time was had by all. Young Green Fingers is a really excellent initiative to encourage children to take an interest in gardening and I’m looking forward to hopefully being involved again as a photographer next year.
p.s. The herding was left by default really to the photographer from the East Anglian Daily Times and a very good job he did too.
All images © Carol Street
