Flying the Green Flags for Hillingdon

Talented gardeners honoured at In Bloom awards

HILLINGDON’S green fingered residents and council are basking in the glow of winning a prestigious gold award in the London in Bloom 2016 competition.

Their talents and hard work were honoured at a ceremony at Richmond Park on Wednesday September 21, when the borough was also named winner of the large city category.

Many of Hillingdon’s parks and open spaces were also rewarded individually. Winners included: Highgrove Woods won gold and the Common of the Year category.

West Drayton Cemetery won the Small Cemetery category.

First time entrant the Polish War Memorial and Garden and Eastcote House Gardens won gold in Park of the Year.

Long Meadow and Pinn Meadows won gold in the Large Conservation category.

Ruislip Lido won gold in Large Park of the Year.

Manor Farm and the Rural Activities Garden Centre both won gold in the Small Parks category.

The council said it is committed to maintaining and investing in its parks and green spaces for residents and visitors to use and enjoy, and that council officers work with the borough’s residents and community and volunteer groups to ensure they are maintained to the highest standard.

Hillingdon was also awarded 42 Green Flag awards (the most in the country) during the summer and the borough won gold in the RHS Britain in Bloom competition last year.

Councillor Jonathan Bianco, Hillingdon Council cabinet member for finance, property and business services, said: “We are delighted with these results. A phenomenal amount of work has gone into making Hillingdon a gold award winner at London in Bloom. I would like to thank all the council staff, residents and volunteers who invested their time and energy into our fabulous parks and green spaces.”

For more information on the borough’s parks and open spaces, visit www. hillingdon. gov. uk/ greenspaces