City wins Silver Gilt in bloom awards

Released: Thursday September 3, 2009

Wolverhampton has won a Silver Gilt in the Heart of England in Bloom awards, it was announced today (Thursday September 3, 2009). It was also named the winner of the Large City category.

Hundreds of residents, school pupils and local businesses supported Wolverhampton’s bid – called Floral City – and their efforts were praised by judges at the awards ceremony at Pershore Abbey this morning.

The judges visited Wolverhampton in July to rate the city’s parks and green spaces, streets, attractions and new developments, and met some of the people who have contributed to making Wolverhampton a more attractive place to live and work.

They were taken on a coordinated route that included the city centre, West Park, the Molineux Hotel and Phoenix Park, finishing in Bilston.

Floral City coordinator Barbara Kay collected the Silver Gilt award at today’s ceremony, along with representatives from seven Wolverhampton community groups who entered Heart of England in Bloom’s Neighbourhoods category for the first time this year.

Dickens Lodge, Spring Valley Estate Coven, Blakenhall Local Neighbourhood Partnership, Highfields Science Specialist School, Graiseley Court Sheltered Scheme, Boundary Way Allotments Association and Sandy Lane Allotments and Gardeners Association each received Merit awards.

Judges also awarded West Park Hospital a discretionary Certificate of Merit.

Barbara said: “We are pleased to have secured a Silver Gilt award for Wolverhampton and to be named the winner of the Large City category."

"The community groups are delighted with their Merit awards, and I would like to say a big thank you to them as well as all the other residents, schools and businesses who supported our campaign.”

To help secure the award, Wolverhampton City Council’s Streetscene Services planted around 300,000 bedding plants and bulbs into flower beds across the city.

Members of the public were invited to enter competitions searching for the best gardens and hanging baskets and best Business in Bloom, and children were asked to draw their ‘perfect garden’.

A year-round calendar of events was also arranged to support the campaign.

Barbara said: “We had more competition entries than ever before and also saw a greater interest from local schools.

It is this kind of enthusiasm which creates pride in our city and I hope it will inspire even more people to become involved next year when we will aim for the top Gold award.

“I would like to thank the organisations which have sponsored and supported this year’s campaign, including Enterprise PLC, Sandy Lane Allotments and Gardeners Association, Streetscene Services, Wolverhampton City Centre Company, the city council and all those who helped us on the route and to prepare our Floral City portfolio. Their support has been invaluable.”

It is the second time Wolverhampton has been awarded a Silver Gilt and Barbara added: “While we are disappointed that we couldn’t retain the Gold award we received for the first time last year, we are pleased the judges found much to commend in Wolverhampton. However, we are determined to go one better next year and reclaim the top accolade in 2010.”

Issued by the press office.