Tube garden competition winners announced

The winners of Underground in Bloom, the Tube’s own annual gardening competition, were announced on Wednesday at City Hall.

Green-fingered London Underground (LU) staff have been competing to grow the most beautiful roses, the tallest runner beans and tastiest strawberries in gardens across the network.

All this gardening work is done in the employees’ own free time.

The colourful hanging baskets and flower beds also help to make the stations more welcoming and attractive for customers.

Entries for the fruit and vegetable category – which was introduced only last year as part of the Mayor’s Capital Growth programme – had doubled.

North Acton Tube station scooped the cultivated garden award with their two giant man-made flower beds, Hampstead won the fruit and vegetable category for growing a variety of edible treats in a challenging environment while Perivale stole the best tubs prize for their outstanding floral display.

The team of judges agreed that the standard of entries was extremely high this year. Entrants received extra points for ‘greener’ gardens.

The impact the whole display had on customers and staff was also an important factor for the judges.

Howard Collins, Chief Operating Officer for London Underground, said:

“Every year the standard of entries seems to grow and grow.

“I’d like to thank everybody for their hard work and the way they have transformed our stations into bright and colourful places for our customers to enjoy.

“These awards recognise the great effort all our staff have made.”

This year over 70 stations, depots and service control rooms took part in the competition.

Mike Brown, Managing Director for LU and Howard Collins, Chief Operating Officer for LU, both attended the awards ceremony.