Bloomin’ marvellous! Newcastle-under-Lyme has scooped a gold award for the 18th consecutive year in the Heart of England in Bloom awards.
Newcastle in Bloom – which receives funding from Newcastle Business Improvement District (BID) to support its fantastic work – landed the top prize at the awards ceremony at Dunchurch Park Hotel and Conference Centre in Rugby, as well as a discretionary environmental award for work to boost biodiversity, wildlife and habitat creation at Silverdale Country Park.
The competition is the regional element of Britain in Bloom, organised by the Royal Horticultural Society to encourage communities to improve their environment.
Horticultural experts toured gardens, parks and projects in July and met with green-fingered residents, community groups, children and council staff. Gardening activities, events and projects celebrated Queen Victoria’s 200th birthday and the women’s suffrage movement.
‘Exceptionally high standards’
Cllr. Mark Holland, Cabinet member for leisure, culture and heritage, said: “This is a magnificent achievement and shows that we have maintained the exceptionally high standards that we have set in this prestigious competition. I’m also delighted that efforts to improve Silverdale Country Park have been celebrated in this way. These great results are testament to the sterling efforts of people from all sections of the community who once again pulled together to showcase the borough at its best, with support from our sponsors. This is what it’s all about. We’ll now take a look at the judges’ feedback before planning next year’s campaign which will be extra special as it marks our 30th year in Heart of England in Bloom.”
‘Attractive town centre’
Amy Williams, BID manager, added: “It’s so important that our town centre is an attractive place for visitors, and the work of Newcastle in Bloom plays a vital role in achieving this. The town centre displays – yet again – looked beautiful this summer. Thank you to everyone for their hard work. The BID is delighted to support their work through funding from the levy paid by local businesses.”
A ceremony for local Britain in Bloom competitors – organised by the borough council – takes place at the New Vic Theatre on Saturday 12 October.
