Community groups who have worked their horticultural magic to help Norwich look blooming marvellous this year have been honoured at a special award ceremony.

Eastern Daily Press: RHS It's Your Neighbourhood certificate winners Reg and Jo Chiddick who are St Stephen's Church volunteers.Picture: ANTONY KELLYRHS It's Your Neighbourhood certificate winners Reg and Jo Chiddick who are St Stephen's Church volunteers.Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2015)

The organisations from across the city received special It's Your Neighbourhood Awards from the Royal Horticultural Society and Anglia in Bloom for their sterling efforts.

The event on Thursday was held at the Best Western Brook Hotel, in Bowthorpe, which also sponsored the occasion.

Terry Bane, an Anglia in Bloom trustee and Friends of Norwich in Bloom ambassador, said: 'We always think that the groups are really what make the bigger picture, the individuals who really care and keep an eye on their local surroundings and try to keep them looking clean, attractive and tidy.

'The people with the local projects at Thursday's event are at the heart of everything really.

'The event was a big thank you to them from the national RHS Britain in Bloom, the regional Anglia in Bloom and from Norwich in Bloom.'

He said everyone had played an important part in making it an 'exceptionally good year' for Norwich, with the city being among the communities honoured at national level at this year's RHS Britain in Bloom awards.

Among the community groups who have been given It's Your Neighbourhood Awards are:

Alfred Nichols Court Sheltered Housing

Alnwick Court Sheltered Housing

Belvedere Community Garden

Grow Our Own (GO2) Bluebell Allotments - Sustainable Living Initiative

Bowthorpe Heritage Garden

Bracondale Residents Association

Bradecroft Sheltered Housing

Brian Avenue Neighbours

Brook Hotel Garden Volunteers

Caroline House

Castle Bridge Volunteers

Castle Mall

intu Chapelfield

Causeway Close Sheltered Housing

Charles Jewson Court

Colman Hospital

Custance Court Sheltered Housing

Don Pratt Court Sheltered Housing

Eaton Rise Residents Association - Ancient Hedge Project

Eaton Village Residents Association

Fellows Close Sheltered Housing

Forester Close Sheltered Housing

Friends of Dragon Hall

Friends of Earlham Cemetery

Friends of Earlham Park

Friends of Eaton Park

Friends of Heigham Park

Friends of Norwich in Bloom

Friends of Rosary Cemetery

Friends of Sewell Park

George Carver Court Sheltered Housing

Grapes Hill Community Garden

Harry Perry Close Sheltered Housing

HM Prison Service Norwich

Ipswich Road United Reform Church

Lakenham Way Volunteers (LTC Green Spaces)

Longbow Sheltered Housing

Marlpit Community Garden

Meadowsweet Sheltered Housing

Melbourne Cottages Sheltered Housing

Mousehold Defenders

Norfolk and Norwich Blind Association Care Home

Norfolk and Norwich Crocosmia Heritage Project

Norwich Cathedral Grounds

Norwich Cathedral Herb Garden Volunteers

Norwich City College Foundation Studies

Norwich Heavenly Gardens Project

Norwich MIND

Quaker Meeting House Garden Volunteers

Rowland Court Sheltered Housing

Ryrie Court Sheltered Housing

Seabrook Court Sheltered Housing

Silkfields Sheltered Housing

Silver Haven

Silver Rooms

St. James House

St. Georges Tombland Church Volunteers

St. Peter Mancroft Church Volunteers

St. Stephens Church Volunteers

Stepping Stones

Strangers Hall Gardening Volunteers

The Assembly House Garden Volunteers

The Assist Trust

The Friends of Marlpit Woods

The Plantation Gardens Trust

University of East Anglia

Vauxhall Community Hub

Waddington Court Sheltered Housing

Winchester Tower Volunteers

Those who attended Thursday's event received their certificates from Anglia in Bloom president Brian Thornton and Alison Findlay from RHS Britain in Bloom.

For more about the Friends of Norwich in Bloom visit www.norwichinbloom.co.uk