A BASINGSTOKE charity has blossomed this year, achieving another two awards to add to its collection.

Inspero, based in Old Worting Road, gained two horticulture awards at this year’s South East in Bloom Awards held last month.

This came after being given the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service earlier on this year, with the directors of the charity meeting with royalty to receive the gong.

The prizes the charity received for horticulture were a Level 5 ‘Outstanding’ in the Royal Horticulture Society It’s Your Neighbourhood category, and a gold in the Community Award for the work done in the Basingstoke community.

These include projects run with several schools in the area, including with the Ashwood Academy and Dove House School.

In a statement, the charity said: “Inspero would like to say big thanks to our wonderful gardening volunteers who have really pulled out all the stops this year and worked so hard, especially in the really hot weather.”

This continues Inspero’s excellent year, with one of its volunteers, Tasharna Stapleton, being given the inaugural Volunteer of the Year prize at this year’s Place to be Proud of Awards held in June.

Inspero runs a range of classes and services from the community garden at Stratton Park, including Grow & Cook classes for children, corporate employee volunteering days, student volunteering days through the National Citizen Service (NCS) and an Adult Green Therapy Club.

The Green Therapy Club is designed particularly for older people suffering from loneliness, social isolation and life-limiting conditions or recovering from illness.

The club includes a range of activities including light gardening, cooking, crafts, willow weaving, sowing and woodwork as well garden visits. Inspero will be launching a crowd funding campaign to help support the older generation through the club via an online community called Donr in October.