Youths in Hindley Prison are gaining new renown for their green fingers and their gardening skills are going from strength to strength as they prepare to make the borough a prettier place once again for the North West in Bloom competition.
They have been busy growing over 10,000 plants for display around Leigh, Wigan and the borough's other towns.


A ground-breaking partnership between Wigan Council's Street Scene team and the prison began last year when council township staff approached prison officers with a view to getting inmates involved in growing plants.
From an initial trial of around 4,500 herbaceous perennials in 2006, the prison is now on its way to growing 10,000 flowers a year for the whole borough to enjoy. Their work helped Wigan reach the finals last year.


Council street scene project officer, Damian Jenkinson said: "Smart thinking has lead to productive outcomes for everyone. The inmates have shown great interest in the project, from learning about the plants and working as a team, to increasing their pride improving their local areas environmental quality."
Council officers visited the prison with the trophy and awards to thank everyone for their support, and to make plans for a busy growing season to come. A new commercially-sized polytunnel in the prison will enable more plants to be grown than before.


Anthony Vose, prison education officer, added: "This work helps the prisoners strengthen their civic pride and community feelings. Also, the work helps with the NVQ qualifications they are studying as part of the re-introduction to work or education."
One high-profile scheme which benefited the Hindley area was the display on the Askwith Road roundabout in Hindley Green.


Many of the plants grown in the prison this summer were used on the roundabout to add colour to this local landmark. The prison gardening team hope to be able to contribute to many more such projects next year as the council leads the campaign for further success at the In Bloom awards 2008.