Ulster in Bloom goes online with new digital showcase

THE Northern Ireland public is being encouraged to take part in a new digital Ulster in Bloom showcase.

It comes after the cancellation of the official Translink Ulster in Bloom Competition 2020.

The Northern Ireland Local Government Association (Nilga) and Translink joined forces to launch ‘Homegrown’ — a new digital Ulster in Bloom showcase to celebrate all things horticultural and help raise community spirits during the Covid-19 pandemic.

With people staying at home during lockdown, many are turning their hands to gardening as a therapeutic and rewarding project.

The new ‘Homegrown’ initiative aims to recognise the work going on in communities, gardens, window boxes and hanging baskets right across Northern Ireland — and maybe even inspire some new green fingers out there.

Organisers of Translink’s Ulster in Bloom say it is about “growing communities” as much as growing flowers and plants — and therefore ‘Homegrown’ is a showcase of what local councils and community groups are doing to support local people and get creative outdoors at this challenging time.

Translink and Nilga are asking Ulster in Bloom participants and the wider public to share photos or short video clips of their gardening endeavours.

All are invited to share on social media, tagging the Twitter handles @Translink_ni and @ NI_LGA and using the hashtag #ulsterinbloom in their posts.

CAPTAIN Tom Moore said it was a “great honour” to receive the Freedom of the City of London in a virtual ceremony.

The ancient tradition is believed to date back to 1237 and Tuesday’s ceremony was the first ever to be conducted by video-link.

Second World War veteran Captain Tom was nominated for the honour after raising almost £33m for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday on April 30.

He sat beside his daughter Hannah Ingram-moore at home in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire for the ceremony, which was streamed on Youtube.

After reading aloud the declaration of a freeman, Captain Tom was asked to give a “wave of the pen” to symbolically sign the document.

Captain Tom Moore (bottom right) receiving the Freedom of the City of London in a virtual ceremony. Tom was joined by his daughter Hannah Ingram-moore at home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire. The ceremony was performed by Dr Peter Kane, the Chamberlain of London (bottom left), who was joined by Lord Mayor William Russell and his wife Hilary (top right), and Murray Craig, Clerk of the Chamberlain’s Court (top left)