Bloom judges are coming...

East Mids contest tour

IT’S that time of year again as the East Midlands in Bloom judges return to tour Loughborough tomorrow (Thursday).

The East Midlands in Bloom annual competition aims to encourage the improvement of communities through horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation.

Loughborough in Bloom joined in 2009 and won Silver in the Small City category in its debut year.

Since then it has earned Gold seven times and has even won the Britain in Bloom title.

The judges, will get an extra treat this week when they see the efforts youngsters have made to put the boot in Bloom, and honour our armed forces at the same time.

A total of 100 military boots have recently been planted up with flowers by youngsters from Emmanuel Scouts, Nanpantan Beavers and pupils from Mountfields Lodge Primary, Hardwick House School and Cobden Primary for Armed Forces Day on June 30.

Now those boots will be on display for the judges to view at Cobden and in the Forest Road Green Belt area.

During the whole visit the judges are also set to visit Thorpe Acre Green, Loughborough University, Harry Cook’s garden and roundabout and Queen’s Park.

Loughborough in Bloom chair Marion Smith told the Echo that while concentration was currently being given to the imminent arrival of the judges, Loughborough in Bloom wasn’t just about one day a year: “We all do it to improve the life and look of Loughborough.”

She added that the judging was “a culmination of a lot work in 12 months. It’s a celebration of the work put in by everybody”.

With that in mind, there are a staggering 39 Loughborough It’s Your Neighbourhood Community Groups also taking part in Bloom this year.

And, despite Loughborough Bloomers having to battle against the recent hot dry spell, Marion said the town was still “looking outstanding.”