ST ANDREW’S won the Floral Guernsey community competition for the second time last night. The parish repeated its success of 2003, when it went on to win a silver award in the Britain in Bloom large village category.

St Andrew’s Floral Guernsey co-ordinator Joc Watts said the whole community had got involved.

‘All the private gardens in St Andrew’s pulled out all the stops and made the parish look wonderful, and it’s not just about what we have done.’

Mrs Watts said she could not say if the parish would accept the invitation to enter Britain in Bloom for a second time, as the team would have to discuss it.

‘When you go into Britain in Bloom you are competing at another level and the standard is much higher,’ she said.

She knew her parish would be in the running in the competition.

‘We felt that St Andrew’s was the loveliest parish in Guernsey, apart from St Martin’s which is decked out for Britain in Bloom, and we hoped Herm and Sark would have been keen competition for us.’

The awards evening took place at Le Friquet Plant Centre, who sponsored the competition.

Lady Dorey presented the main trophy that bears her name.

Mrs Watts spoke of the bond between team members.

‘We enjoy each other’s company and the plants are the catalyst to us enjoying ourselves – we just need a few more friends.’

St Andrew’s also won the best local environment award for the third year running and the overall schools award.

One of the biggest cheers of the night was for Woggy Bienvenu of the Forest community organising team, who won The Ossie Falla memorial trophy for his outstanding contribution towards a community.

This year’s Floral Guernsey awards were downsized as the parishes now run the establishment classes.

But Culture and Leisure Department director of events Peter Falla said this had not devalued the competition.

‘Due to cutbacks in funding and limitations on staff resources, we at Floral Guernsey have had to make some hard decisions as to the work we could undertake,’ he said.

He was delighted that the parishes

had taken on the running of the

establishment classes and that more than 60 establishments, such as pubs, hotels, garages and banks had taken part.

‘From our perspective, that is great, because it means our focus is on the community competition.

‘The involvement of the community is so important in the judges’ eyes and that is what drives the community forward.’