Rallying call to city gardeners

Released: 8 April 2008

Wolverhampton tourism chiefs are calling on green-fingered residents to ‘dig for victory’.

The team behind Floral City - Wolverhampton’s bid for glory in this year’s Heart of England in Bloom competition - say budding gardeners as well as community champions and amateur historians all have their part to play in the quest for a gold award.

A panel of judges will descend on the city in July and the race is on to ensure Wolverhampton looks blooming marvellous in time for their arrival. Organisers are calling on the community to back the bid - and get gardening.

Barbara Kay, Wolverhampton City Council’s Head of Tourism and Development, said: “The campaign can involve every single person in the city in one way or another.

“We want to make Wolverhampton more vibrant than ever and we need your contribution - big or small.  It doesn’t matter if you only have time to put up some hanging baskets, cut back an overgrown hedge or clear up some litter, it all helps to make our city look neater and tidier.

“And for the first time we will be introducing competitions to encourage more residents and businesses to decorate their buildings and gardens.”

The theme of this year’s event is Local Roots and judges will be looking for displays which highlight Wolverhampton’s unique history and cultural diversity.
 
They could include gardens with flora which represent different cultural groups, a sensory garden for disabled people or displays celebrating a key moment in the history of a community or a famous figure who lived there.

Local businesses and organisations are being asked to help in any way they can - from displaying hanging baskets outside their premises to sponsoring the campaign in some way.

Already on board are Waitrose, which will also offer the judges a tea break as they travel around the city, Enterprise, which will sponsor the portfolio to be sent to judges, and Sandy Lane Allotments & Gardeners’ Association, which will hold master classes to show beginners how to grow their own vegetables.

They are also staging a veg-growing competition and will be providing sunflower seeds for local schoolchildren to grow, with prizes up for grabs for the tallest. Pupils can also take part in a poster drawing competition.

Organisers are keen to encourage other businesses and organisations - big or small - to back the campaign. Barbara added: “We really want this to be a city-wide campaign with as many residents and organisations as possible involved in some way.

“It is the perfect opportunity for businesses, particularly those along the judges’ route, to make a real impression, while helping Wolverhampton become a Floral City throughout the summer.”

Wolverhampton’s Heart of England in Bloom campaign was launched by popular historian Professor Carl Chinn MBE last month. 

Entry forms will soon be available from the Civic Centre, Central Library and the Visitor Information Centre, Queen Square, and from other outlets around the city, while local groups and organisations will also be targeted as the council 'grows for gold'.

For more information about how you can get involved, call Barbara Kay on 01902 551070 or email barbara.kay@wolverhampton.gov.uk. 

Issued by the press office.