Green Fingered Glory for Golden Loughborough

LOUGHBOROUGH has struck gold for the second consecutive year at the East Midlands In Bloom awards.

Judges were wowed yet again by the town’s horticultural offering as it scooped a Gold Award in the Best Small City in the East Midlands category as well as winning the category outright.

Queen’s Park also won a discretionary award for horticultural excellence in parks while Chapman Street Garden Association won a special Judge’s Award.

Last year, Loughborough won gold in the Best Small City category as well as number of other awards for town residents and businesses. It is rare for an entry to win Gold in consecutive years.

Andy Rush, Chairman of the Loughborough In Bloom Board and Editor of the Loughborough Echo, said: “Given that for various reasons that Loughborough in Bloom has had to virtually reinvent itself for 2012, to achieve gold for the second year running feels like it’s even more of an achievement than last year’s result.

“To not only reach that standard in the first place, but to maintain it and improve upon it in many ways, is just fantastic. When I heard we’d won the gold again I couldn’t believe it.

“It’s a testament to all the hard work put in by everyone involved, not just to the new Bloomers we have welcomed on board, but to all those who have laid its foundations in past years. I’d like to thank them all.

“I am so pleased for everyone. Now let’s see how we do in the National Britain in Bloom awards in October.”

Mike Jones, vice-chairman of the Bloom Board, said: “This is a remarkable achievement; few Bloom entries get a gold two years running, but the key to our success was the huge effort made by volunteers working in community groups across the town.

“In celebrating our award, however, we should not forget that the main reason why Bloom is so important, is that it gives great pleasure to thousands of local people. Long may it continue.”

Councillor Hilary Fryer, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Cleansing and Open Spaces, said: “This is an absolutely amazing achievement.

“It was always going to be hard to beat last year’s fantastic entry, but thanks to the hard work and determination of every single person, group, organisation and business in town, we have been recognised with the highest accolade yet again.

“It shows what we can achieve when we all work towards the same goal. Put simply, nothing brings Loughborough together quite like Bloom does - so well done to each and every person who contributed to this incredible success.”

Loughborough In Bloom 2012 saw more than 100 different people, groups, organisations and businesses take part from across the town.

In 2010, Loughborough was awarded a Silver Gilt Award and also scooped the region’s Least Littered Town and Best Residential Garden awards.

To get involved in next year’s Bloom effort, call Charnwood Borough Council on (01509) 634900 or email loughborough.in.bloom@charnwood.gov.uk. Visit http://loughboroughinbloom.wordpress.com/ for more information.

Watch the Loughborough In Bloom video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UU0i9Bv7q87m3svI-spcONFw&v=NSRcSehTN2U&feature=player_detailpage