Abram man in line for BBC gardening award (From Leigh Journal)

Wigan Council officer from Abram in line for top gardening award

3:10pm Friday 10th February 2012 in News

COUNCIL officer Damian Jenkinson has been nominated for the BBC’s Young Gardener of the Year.

Viewers this Sunday evening (BBC3 8pm, Feb 12)will see the Wigan’s Borough in Bloom co-coordinator – as well as several hundred other budding horticulturalists – judged by a team of hardy experts.

The BBC series looks for a young gardener aged 16-25 who will be "a true ambassador for their trade". Contestants are whittled down over successive programmes by judges looking for high quality trade skills. According to BBC representative Zara Hobson: "The show promotes real people who will never sign million-pound recording contracts.”

Damian Jenkinson, 25, from Abram, joined Wigan Council in 2006 on an initial 6 month volunteer placement through the European Social Fund and TNG Training. Prior to that he had studied Commercial Horticulture and Conservation at St Helens College. Damian was also part of a team creating show gardens for the Tatton Park Flower Show. The garden in 2005 won a Silver-Gilt, with a follow up garden in 2006 winning Gold and Best in Show. With Wigan Council, Damian won a European award in 2007 for one of the most successful students in the North West.

In recent years, Damian has worked with tenants, residents and businesses on environmental projects for Wigan Borough in Bloom.

“It’s a team effort,” said Damian. “There are hundreds of local people who have decided to get involved in their communities. I have been privileged to work with people of all ages from all over the borough – and it’s their efforts which mean we bring back more and more Royal Horticultural Society prizes each year.”

This year sees Wigan Borough through to the Britain in Bloom national finals, to be held in August.

The council’s environment champion Leigh Cllr Kevin Anderson says: “In Bloom is a really cost-effective way to make positive changes brighten the local environment and puts people in charge of their local areas. Damian is right to thank the volunteers but he is at the heart of In Bloom and works tirelessly to support all the projects.”

In Bloom champion John O’Neill will also be watching the BBC3 programme on Sunday. He adds: “I always knew local residents would help us to succeed, and with the specialist knowledge and positive attitude Damian brings, I know we can all continue to keep Wigan Borough in Bloom.”