Towns celebrate Bloom successes

The annual Heart of England in Bloom awards took place on Wednesday night at Warwick Castle and representatives of councils and groups throughout Shropshire were guests of honour.

Bridgnorth, Oswestry, Ludlow and Shrewsbury came out smelling of roses and were praised for their floral displays, pride in their towns and inclusion of communities.

Judges said Shrewsbury, which won a gold award in the small city category and has now made it through to the Britain in Bloom national campaign, was a delight to visit and that, despite funding cuts, Team Shrewsbury still keeps the town in the 'Premier League of floral towns'.

Shrewsbury Town Council clerk, Helen Ball, said the award was a testament to the hard work of the horticultural team. "Bloom isn't just about flowers it is about the communities within the town," she said. "We are proud that we could take judges anywhere within Shrewsbury and they could see the pride people feel for the town. We lost out to Newcastle-Under-Lyme, who were voted category winners, by just one point, but I don't begrudge them the win as they have raised their game."

In Ludlow, which took gold in the town category, judges Mark Wiltshire and Carol Miller visited the recently opened museum and said the quality of baskets hanging on the town's businesses were 'quite superb'.

Special mention went to Carolyn and Mike Woods who won the chairman's special award for their back garden on Steventon New Road.

Viv Parry, chair of Ludlow in Bloom was delighted with the town's success and said: "This is the 13th time we have won gold and it was a fantastic feeling when they called out our name as the winner. The town looks so nice so the hard work is worth it. Lots of community groups and individuals come and help and it makes it a real town effort. It takes us about three weeks to get everything in and planted up and then it is a case of watering them every other day."

Oswestry was named category winner in the large towns section and was also chosen to go forward to next year's Britain in Bloom competition, one of only three areas from the Heart of England.

It was improvements to Oswestry's Cae Glas Park that most impressed the judges along with the civic pride people have in the town.

In Bloom chairman, Betty Gull, said the award was down to community effort. "A third of the judge's marks are for community involvement so thanks must go to everyone from residents who keep their front gardens tidy to our shops and businesses and to the volunteers who litter pick in Henlle Woods. It is people doing the unglamorous jobs that have help Oswestry take this magnificent title.

"The support from everyone has been wonderful and we now need to keep this going into next year."

Bridgnorth also won a gold award in the town category and mayor, Ron Whittle, said he was delighted with the achievement.

"It's a great compliment to our workforce," he said. "It's alright the council taking the credit but they do a great job to keep it looking good.

"Places like the Castle Grounds and other bits and pieces around the town are lovely. But the other place which is always beautiful is the cemetery which is not only well maintained but is a lovely setting."