College staff and students explain their work in town's main park to Britain in Bloom judges
Derwen College’s green-fingered horticulturists were among the team showcasing Oswestry’s gorgeous floral displays to Britain in Bloom judges last week.
Paul Moss, the nursery production manager at Derwen College’s garden centre, with horticulture helpers and Derwen clients, Anton Berry and Thomas Donaldson, met Britain in Bloom judges when they visited Cae Glas Park, in Oswestry, last week.
Instrumental in sourcing, designing and planting the park’s bedding, borders and planters, Paul spoke to judges as part of their tour of the town. He has worked at the park with Derwen College students – who visit the gardens every Monday – as well as with some of Derwen’s long-term clients, such as Anton and Thomas.
The Derwen team joined Oswestry in Bloom chair Natalie Bainbridge, Oswestry Mayor Councillor Olly Rose, Cae Glas park keeper Sue Cameron, Oswestry Business Improvement District, Adele Nightingale, and Louise Humphreys from Oswestry Council when they met with RHS Britain in Bloom judges Rae Beckwith and Roger Burnett in the park.
Paul said this year’s planting was about more than simply stunning displays of bedding plants.
"As well as colourful bedding plants around town and in the central bed at the park, we sourced a variety of pollinator-friendly perennials. These more sustainable options were planted around the edges of the park to encourage bees and butterflies," he said.
Oswestry is one of 10 towns across the UK who are finalists in te competition’s Large Town category. Britain in Bloom is the UK’s biggest community gardening campaign and it involves around 3,500 community groups and hundreds of thousands of local volunteers who work year-round to keep our neighbourhoods and streets green, clean and thriving.
As part of the process, judges also spoke to pupils from Woodside Primary School, who showed off sunflowers that they’d planted for a competition in the park, before being introduced to the hard-working team of Oswestry in Bloom volunteers.
The day of judging included visits to many areas around Oswestry where the community has come together to make Oswestry bloom.
"Derwen College was proud to part of this process. We look forward to hearing the winners announced later in the year," Paul said.
