Judges due to inspect city’s blooms

Released: 8 July 2008

Wolverhampton will be looking blooming marvellous when judges from a national horticultural campaign arrive in the city this Thursday (July 10).

The Heart of England in Bloom judges will be casting their eyes over the efforts of green-fingered residents, businesses and city council gardeners who have been busy brightening up their borders over the last few months.

And the team behind Floral City, Wolverhampton’s entry in this year’s campaign, are calling on everyone to give their displays a final check before their arrival.

After scooping silver gilts in the in the last two years, Wolverhampton is aiming for a coveted gold award this time around.

Members of the local community have thrown their weight behind the bid, while gardeners from the city council’s Streetscene Services put more than 230,000 spring and summer bedding plants and 74,000 bulbs into flower beds across the city.

Barbara Kay, Wolverhampton City Council’s head of tourism and development, said: “We have had a tremendous response from the people of Wolverhampton to this year’s Heart of England in Bloom campaign.

“Everyone has put in a lot of hard work to ensure the city looks the best it possibly can ahead of the judges’ visit this week, and we are hopeful they will be appreciative of the effort that people have made.”

Councillor Matt Holdcroft, Wolverhampton City Council’s cabinet member for leisure and culture, added: “This process has commanded the highest level of care and attention from gardeners across the city and I like many others will be hoping for a gold award to reflect the hard work that has gone into making Wolverhampton look great this summer.”

The judging party will be taken on a tour of selected parts of the city on Thursday morning, though time constraints mean they won’t be able to see every single display.

But Barbara said: “Even if you are not on the route, your efforts need not go unnoticed because we will be providing a portfolio showcasing some of the finest examples from around the city which the judges may have missed.”
The theme of this year’s competition is Local Roots and judges are particularly looking out for displays which highlight Wolverhampton’s unique history and cultural diversity. 

For more information on the Heart of England in Bloom entry, log on to www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/floralcity

Issued by the press office.