Areas of Achievement:- The gardens around Barras House Residential Home are a pleasure to visit. They give enjoyment to both the residents who carry out the work and others who are only able to admire the results. The work to improve the appearance of the railway station must be commended. The school garden at St Michael's is first class. The Jubilee Garden where grass verges and open spaces were all well maintained. Maintenance of the Recreation field is outstanding with mixed borders and the large number of colourful baskets and planter at the Blowing Green (maintained and grown by members) being stunning.

Areas of Achievement:- Villagers have taken a number of opportunities to provide wildlife/nature conservation areas at several sites. Of particular merit is the Forge Green wildflower meadow, recently surveyed by pupils at Caldew School. the maintenance regime within the churchyard/cemetery ensures further areas of nature conservation. Local heritage is reflected at the railway station with planting appropriate to the station's history. The large murals at the station (designed and painted by pupils from Caldew School) shows the vilalge's links with other towns along the railway line. All the areas visited were clean, tidy and weed free,

Areas of Achievement:- The Parish Council, in association with many voluntary groups, clearly intend to continue developing further projects. Many groups and individuals participate in ensuring the village is well cared for. It's particularly good to see the involvement of so many young people.

Pupils and staff at the Junior School are making a big impact within the village of Dalston. The school garden is first class, growing a range of crops, which are then sold at parents' evenings etc. raising money for further developments

Plants are grown from seed, in a greenhouse attached to part of the school. Everything is well maintained and looked after. Tools are cleaned and left neatly in their respective places. Not only is this giving the children a good insight into growing flowers and vegetables, but also keeping them in touch with other members of the community. The tremendous enthusiasm of the children is good to see.

In addition to the work within the school grounds, the children also go into the village on regular litter picking excursions, even surveying the different types of litter and how these ought to be recycled. This is followed up by polite letters to the local secondary school and factory asking for help in keeping the village tidy.

The work undertaken at the school supports the efforts of Britain (and Cumbria) in Bloom and is showing improvements within the local environment.

Grateful thanks are due to all the pupils and staff at St Michael's for the time and dedication spent in the garden.

The residents and staff are absolutely delighted to be once again the recipients of this prestigious award for their fantastic garden. Bob Roberts, Frank Todd Frank and Pat Forster and Dorothy Vallely lovingly tend the garden every day and are even now planning their entry for 2010. At Barras House there is a Fairy Garden and a quiet area for sitting as well as a vegetable garden. Bob Roberts said that he was pleased that the trophy 'was now back where it belongs and that they will do everything that that they can to retain it. After all we have won it twice before'.

The Cumbria in Bloom entry for Dalston Village was promoted by Dalston Parish Council. The PC would like to thank all the organisations and individuals who have contributed to the special categories, namely Barras House, St Michael's School, Dalston Bowling Club and the Station Group. Also an integral part of the 2009 entry were the Caldew School Autism Unit garden, the Year 7 & 8 pupils Open Minds Day survey of Forge Green wildflower meadow, the Station artwork panels and the Brownies promotional posters. The people involved are, as always, too many to mention. However the following require special thanks: