A GREEN-FINGERED pensioner at a sheltered housing scheme has been shortlisted for a gardening award to recognise his hard work which benefits the community - all carried out from his wheelchair.

Pensioner Ernest Cornish, who lives at Anchor’s Peaselands retirement housing scheme in Shipley, was nominated by seven neighbours for his hard work in the communal gardens.

Almost 300 nominations were sent in for the Happy Living Awards run by Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit care and housing provider.

The awards were launched in August with six categories: Green Fingered Customer, Best Neighbour, Extraordinary Talent, Grandparent of the Year, Community Champion and Best Pet.

And double amputee Mr Cornish, 86, was both surprised and thrilled to be shortlisted for the Green Fingered Customer Award.

"I'm over the moon to be up for this award. I love gardening as it keeps me fit, and it’s great to see others getting enjoyment from our communal gardens."

Neighbours Jean and John Watmough, who appreciate Mr Cornish's work in the gardens, said: "We have lovely peaceful gardens complete with beautiful flowering tubs which are all kept and tended perfectly by Ernest.

"He orders, plants and waters everything – all from his wheelchair.

"We so appreciate Ernest creating these wonderful displays for us and think he deserves an award."

Another neighbour, Margaret Moore, added: "Ernest’s flower tubs bring pleasure to our community. From his mixed displays for spring and summer to his lovely winter pansies, every time we go outside we have colour to cheer us all up, even on the gloomiest days."

Peaselands is a retirement housing scheme for the over 55s where residents live independently, but are supported by professional help, said manager Sam Cook.

"Ernest was completely shocked when he heard he'd been nominated. He does a tremendous job with the waist-height planters, filling them with pansies and geraniums of different colours and brightening everything up.

"He's a lovely man who has a laugh with everyone."

A customer panel will be coming together later this month to judge those shortlisted, and winners of the six categories will be announced in December with each receiving £100 in high street shopping vouchers.

About Anchor

Anchor is a charity and provides care and accommodation to 40,000 people across the England.

Formed in 1968 as Help the Aged (Oxford) Housing Association, it adopted the name Anchor in 1975 and opened its first care home seven years later.

Today, it provides retirement housing to rent and to buy, retirement villages and residential care homes, including specialist dementia care, from more than 1,000 locations across England.