Green-fingered Falmouth growers have been celebrating after winning a top regional gardening award.

Falmouth and District Allotments and Gardens Society have received the “It’s Your Neighbourhood” accolade for the second year running, this time boosting their achievement from “Level 3: Developing” to “Level 4: Thriving.”

Awarded jointly by the Royal Horticultural Society and South West in Bloom, this non-competitive category of the Britain in Bloom awards is aimed at smaller volunteer-led community groups who are greening up their local environment.

There are three sections to the “It’s Your Neighbourhood” award, namely “community participation,” which makes up 40 per cent of the total marks awarded, “environmental responsibility,” which makes up 30 per cent and “gardening achievement” for the remaining marks.

Chair of the society, Tom Greenaway, said: “This is the second year of entry and we are very proud that the Falmouth and District Allotment society is part of the community team, which is involving schools, disabled groups and others who all use these allotments.

“We are a wide social group, a happy bunch and we are very pleased.”

Falmouth mayor Geoffrey Evans, who has also acted as president of the society for the past six years, said he was “very proud” to present the award to Tom and his vice chair Robin.

He always enjoys “popping in” to meetings, he said, and whenever he gets the time he joins the growers for a cup of tea.

The society are now setting their sights on the next, and highest, level of the “It’s Your Neighbourhood” award, which is Level 5 or “Outstanding.”