Gardening could earn scheme community award

A sheltered housing scheme in Carlisle is up for a Green Communities Award at the Cumbria Community Awards after its garden helped reinvigorate residents.

The green-fingered residents at Barras House started their community garden nine years ago and have won top prize in Cumbria in Bloom twice already.

Scheme manager Marianne Davidson told the Cumberland News that residents get a lot out of gardening.

"Its therapeutic and the residents enjoy it," she said.

"It gives them a goal in life which I think we all need and the goal is to have the garden looking nice for the other tenants."

The garden has now been put forward as one of three finalists for the Green Communities Award, with judges set to decide the winner within the coming week.

Cumbria has a number of quality gardens to inspire gardeners to get into the greenhouse and get growing for next year.

One such place is Dove Cottage – the former Grasmere home of William Wordsworth.