Eddie Maxwell, Parks Manager at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council with BID Executive Board Member, Pele Mathauda of Pellé, Town Hall Street
Published Wednesday 9 August 2017 at 11:15
From Aberdeen in Scotland down to St Helier in Jersey, Blackburn town centre is one of 78 finalists vying to win a Gold award in this year’s Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) national Britain in Bloom competition.
On 10th August 2017 Blackburn will be visited by the RHS judges. A group will lead the pair of judges on a tour of the town, taking in areas including the Cathedral Quarter, Church Street, Fleming Square, King William Street, Blackburn College Campus and the Blakey Moor Townscape Heritage area where a new environmental improvement scheme is planned.
Blackburn is competing in the Business Improvement District (BID) category of the quintessentially British competition with hopes of being recognised as one of the cleanest, greenest and most beautiful places in the UK.
Blackburn will be looking to impress the judges by showing them the very best of the North West’s community horticulture. The group’s entry will be assessed across three key criteria: horticultural achievement, community participation and environmental responsibility.
Councillor Jim Smith, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said:
Partnership working is at the heart of what we do and over the last few years, the Blackburn BID partners have created a strong team that work together to co-ordinate and enhance planting and maintenance of green spaces in the town centre. By working together, pooling resources and attracting volunteers, our money now goes further and we have developed a strong Blackburn in Bloom campaign.”
Harriet Roberts, manager of the Blackburn BID, said:
The Council’s dedicated gardeners and all the volunteers have been working incredibly hard to prepare for the judges arrival. We have been busy litter picking, watering and weeding so that our displays look their best for the big day.
Blackburn town centre was awarded Gold in the Best Town Centre category of the regional Britain in Bloom competition last summer. This is the first time that we’ve got through to the national stages of the competition but we are excited and confident about welcoming the judges.”
Each finalist will be awarded a Gold, Silver Gilt, Silver or Bronze medal when the results are announced at the Britain in Bloom awards ceremony in Llandudno, North Wales on 27 October.
There is also an award for being the best in category, as well as special discretionary awards for achieving excellence in particular areas. These include involving children and young people, gardening in a changing climate and overcoming adversity.
Britain in Bloom is the UK’s biggest community gardening campaign – up to 300,000 volunteers are involved in transforming our villages, towns and cities into greener and more pleasant places to live.