Tending to thousands of flowers a day is about as far away from as a dog’s life as many people could imagine but that’s exactly what’s helped one Swansea kennel business scoop a top title.
The hundreds of hanging baskets and rows of raised flower beds that together help brighten up the Kenwood Boarding Kennels and Cattery means the property is the reigning champion of the nominated business category of the annual Swansea in Bloom awards.
Mick Hull and wife Janet have run the business for 11 years. The location of the premises on the former colliery site in Llanmorlais means garden soil is limited so imagination is needed to make the grounds a kaleidoscope of colour in the summer months- and that’s where Mick comes in.
The process of flicking through catalogues and ordering plants begins in the dark winter nights of November before potting starts in March and hundreds of varieties of flowers from across the world are put on show in late May. Mick then spends about two hours a day watering the displays throughout the summer months to make sure the flowers and plants are in tip top shape.
The Kenwood Boarding Kennels and Cattery makes up about four acres of land. It caters for around 50 dogs and 50 cats.
Mick, who inherited a love of gardening from his grandfather, said: “We’ve entered the Swansea in Bloom competition for the last five years and have been lucky enough to win several different categories in that time.
“We’ve also won a Wales in Bloom award in 2008 where, because of the size of our property, we were up against competition including a shopping centre in Cwmbran.
“I think showing pride in floral displays is good for business and it also means people come to visit our premises just to see the plants and flowers. We’re fortunate because gardening is a hobby of mine; I don’t see it as work.
“Swansea in Bloom is a fabulous competition. It helps make Swansea welcoming during the summer months and leaves people with positive impressions of the area.”
Swansea in Bloom is an annual competition run by Swansea Council aimed at making Swansea a more attractive place to live, work and visit.
Other categories include best allotment plot, best new entrant, best restaurant, best cafe, the green gardener award, the young gardeners sunflower competition and best container garden.
Application forms are now available for Swansea in Bloom that offer people the chance to nominate either themselves or others for an award.
A deadline of Friday July 2 has been set for entries and people are encouraged to use environmentally-friendly methods.
Have a look at www.swansea.gov.uk/swanseainbloom for more information or call 01792 635124.
