COLOURFUL hanging baskets adorn the specialityshops of Blackhall Yard each summer, creating a floral feast for shoppersand tourists with cameras.

When centre manager Beth Elliot readabout the Gazette's Kendal Pride campaign, she decided to give hershopkeepers some much-deserved recognition by entering Blackhall Yard inthe competition.

The shopping mall is hoping to scoop the KendalPride trophy for Best Commercial Premises, and is the Gazette's firstentrant in that category.

"We've been doing hanging baskets for nineyears now, since I've been here, and we've had comments from all over thecountry," said Beth, who thinks Kendal Pride is a "brilliant"idea.

"Blackhall Yard is enormously popular for both the hangingbaskets and the Christmas decorations. We even have foreigners, Japanesetourists, taking photographs of it. We are very proud of it and it doesadd to the beauty of Kendal. "

Centre manager Beth added: "I thoughtit was time both the tenants and the company had some recognition becausethe hanging baskets are absolutely gorgeous."

Blackhall Yard isowned by Speciality Shops plc, and Beth pays for the hanging baskets outof the tenants' service charges.

Webbs Garden Centre makes up thelarge baskets every year with bright, trailing flowers.

This year,22-inch wide baskets will decorate the Blackhall Yard entrance, thebiggest yet, while more baskets will add strategic splashes of colouralong the shopfronts.

The flowering baskets will be hung up in lateMay or early June, and will bloom into autumn.

"We have a janitor,dear old Albert," said Beth, who loves flowers and gardening at home. "Hecomes in every morning, feeds them, waters them, takes care of them. Theylast right through till we put the Christmas decorationsup."

Unfortunately, vandals have attacked Blackhall Yard's floraldisplays in the past, pulling out flowers or even stealing thebaskets.

"It's heartache because we've got to have them replanted,"said Beth, who is asking the public to keep an eye out forvandalism.

"If they are proud of Kendal and they want Kendal Pride,and if they see any of these things going on, it's their duty to reportit," she urged.

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