Wybourn's Inspirational Gardener
A triumphant, 79 year-old cancer sufferer is putting her weight behind the drive for a Sheffield community to have the best kept gardens in Sheffield.
Green-fingered Hyde Park resident Kitty Flaherty has just won first prize for her estate in the annual competition organised by Sheffield Homes in partnership with Tenant and Residents Associations (TARAs) in the Manor/Castle, Woodthorpe and Richmond areas.
She says there’s no excuse for people not to take a pride in their gardens.
Kitty Flaherty said: “Despite being nearly 80 and fighting cancer, if I can do it – anyone can!”
Kitty, who celebrates her 80th birthday next month, lives on Hyde Park and is a member of the Alpha Tenants Management Co-Operative.
The Wybourn best garden competition was formerly staged by Sheffield City Council and ran until 1993.
It was re-launched by Sheffield Homes last year and bigger and better is planned for 2007.
Paul Walton, Area Manager for Sheffield Homes, said: “We wanted to make sure that those who go to the effort of creating lovely and tidy gardens in the community are recognised.
“Kitty Flaherty hasn’t let illness or age stand in her way and her efforts are a shining example to others.”
All category winners received an engraved plate from Sheffield Homes along with a gift voucher donated by the local TARAs at a special presentation ceremony held at Norfolk Park’s Centre In The Park earlier this week.
Winners were:
Kitty Flaherty – Alpha Co-op area
Terry Loukes – Wybourn
Annie Speed – Skye Edge
Charles Rawson – Woodthorpe
Janine Pryor – Low and Manor
Frank Cousins – Manor Park
Pauline Rollison (house category) and Joyce Ogle (flat category) – Richmond Park and Birklands.