BOLTON is blooming after local gardening teams struck gold at the Manchester's Dig the City Urban Garden Festival.

The Turton Tower Kitchen Garden Group won best in show while Edgworth garden designer Sue Jeffries won a gold for her Playful Garden — created for poorly youngsters at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

Turton Tower created a sensory garden, with plants selected for their scent, sound, texture and colour, but made entirely from materials scavenged from their kitchen garden – as well as from friends, family and neighbours – to show how inexpensive good gardening can be.

Anna Harvey from Turton Tower Kitchen Garden Group, which won the coveted Best In Show award said; “I was absolutely thrilled that we won the award. It was totally unexpected. It is all down to the hard work of all the volunteers that have helped it happen. It has without a doubt been a team effort and it looks fantastic."

Climbing plants scale a lamppost and scavenged containers ranging from tin baths to handbags contain bright herbaceous plants, colourful vegetables and grasses.

Judge Diarmuid Gavin said: "We've been overwhelmed by the calibre and creativity of the show gardens.

"Urban gardens present unique challenges to gardeners and it’s very exciting to see these garden designs brought to life.”

Mrs Jeffries creation is now on show in King Street Manchester before it takes pride of place as a rooftop garden at the children's hospital.

The garden was inspired by the therapeutic gardening sessions she teaches for adults with learning disabilities and mental health support needs and also by gardening clubs that she’s run for young children in Edgworth.

She said: "Being relocated in a hospital means that the plants and materials used all have to be low in allergens and, in 'The Playful Garden' all the plants used are edible.

"Some are permanently planted, but there is also an area for annual plants where the children can sow their own seeds and watch them grow."

As well as the sensory element of the colour, touch, taste and smell of the plants the garden includes water, stone and sand for different textures and elements that can be moved, touched and played with.

Mrs Jeffries said: "I was very pleased to be awarded gold. I really enjoyed working on it as I am interested in the therapeutic gardens and the benefits they can bring to people.

"At the show children have been playing in the garden, which is what I wanted."

Visitors can see the gardens in King Street, Manchester, until tomorrow.