Neighbourhood Bloom enthusiasts, parks volunteers and school children will gather at the Council House on Friday to celebrate success in brightening up their area through gardening.
Awards will be presented to 50 groups from Nottingham who are participating in ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’, which is part of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom campaign. The groups work hard to help improve their own patch of the city, including streets, sheltered housing complexes, community gardens, churches and hospitals.
Certificates will also be presented to 17 groups who have gained Green Flag Community Awards, recognising high-quality green spaces in the UK that are managed by voluntary and community groups.
And three Nottingham schools will receive awards from Nottingham in Bloom, all sponsored by Fast Graphics:
- Best School Grounds – The Milford Academy, Clifton.
- Best Bee-Friendly Habitat – Hospital and Home Education Learning Centre, Thorneywood.
- Best Home for Hedgehogs – Stanstead Primary School, Rise Park.
Councillor Malcolm Wood, Chair of the Nottingham in Bloom Working Group, says: “The annual awards presentation is a great opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the many groups who are busily improving their neighbourhood, their park or their school, and for people to share ideas and gain inspiration.
“Community gardening transforms the environment and can also transform people’s lives – whether by improving physical and mental health or by being a catalyst for new friendships to blossom. We want to thank everyone for their tremendous efforts.”
Nottingham is at the forefront of the RHS ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ initiative nationally and has also developed volunteering opportunities for assessors. This year about 20 Nottingham City Council staff and members of established IYN groups stepped up to be assessors, giving them an opportunity to share their experience and knowledge.