The 35th Ramsey primary schools bulb competition has been launched after Ramsey Town Commissioners’ head gardener Bobby Cunningham and his team delivered 520 daffodil packs to Bunscoill Rhumsaa.
Introduced in 1981 as a way of introducing young people to taking responsibility for growing and nurturing plants, the competition sees the Commissioners provide pupils with daffodil bulbs, planting compost and a pot, together with an information pack with hints on the growing and staging processes. The bulbs, this year of the variety Tete a Tete, are grown by the children at home then brought to school for judging in early spring, followed later by prize presentations in the infants’ and juniors’ buildings, Auldyn and Ree Gorree respectively.
Ramsey Town Commissioners’ chairman Richard Radcliffe said: ‘This competition never fails to delight. The pupils’ enthusiasm for seeing their bulbs grow from a mere shoot to a flourishing plant is not only a joy to behold but also infectious, as many of the staff regularly choose to take part as well. I’m sure spring 2016 will reveal, as always, some outstanding horticultural talent and I look forward to presenting the awards next March.’
Photo - Ramsey Town Commissioners’ head gardener Bobby Cunningham, Commissioner Sylvia Beattie and Ramsey horticulturalist Pat Goodway, judges in the 2015 competition. Picture Andrew Barton.
