ATTRACTIONS, care homes, gardens, and a university in York have all struck gold in this year’s Yorkshire in Bloom competition.

There were dozens of entrants from the York area in this year’s competition, and many of them have triumphed in the annual contest, which encourages communities of all sizes, from villages to cities, to make a positive and lasting improvement to their local environment.

Among the gold award winners is Upper and Nether Poppleton in the small town category, and it was also the category winner.

The chairman of the working group masterminding the project, Michael Walker, said: “We have been striving for a gold award for several years, and received silver gilt awards in the last four years. This year, with the help of hard working colleagues, including Barrie Otley with his horticultural experience, Brian Deamer and many others we were thrilled and delighted to achieve the pinnacle of Royal Horticultural Society awards.”

The competition includes a number of special categories, including visitor attractions. Both York Racecourse and the Treasurer’s House in York entered this category and bagged a gold award, with the racecourse a joint category winner.

In the universities, colleges and further education establishments category, it has been a successful year for the York St John University. As well as receiving a gold award, the university also won its category.

Gold award winners in the country houses, estates and parks and gardens category include York Museum Gardens and Homestead Park, near Clifton Park, in York.

Middlethorpe Hall and Spa, in Bishopthorpe Road, scooped a gold award in the large hotels section. Meanwhile, Foxwood Residents’ Association was awarded gold in the open spaces category. In addition, the Low Moor Community Kids’ Allotment, in Kilburn Road, off Fulford Road in York, has been judged as outstanding in the ‘it’s your neighbourhood’ category.

In the public and private charitable establishments section, Rosevale Residential Care Home, in Wigginton, Grimston Court Residential Care, off Hull Road, and St Catherine’s Nursing and Residential Care Home in Shipton-by-Beningbrough all received a silver gilt. Other gold award recipients near York include Burnby Hall Gardens in Pocklington and Weir Caravan Park, in Stamford Bridge.