Loughborough strikes gold!
A BLOOMING great result! Loughborough has been awarded Gold in the East Midlands in Bloom competition and bagged the title of category winner after scoring almost 10 points more than other small cities.
The news was announced on Wednesday, September 13, at the Bloom Awards presentation which took place in Boston, Lincolnshire.
Judges Dave Bramwell and Chris Beal visited Loughborough in July and met with those that help make the town look so blooming brilliant.
And judges got to see the 30 new planters that have been put in place along the Loughborough inner relief road, courtesy of the borough council, and the new hanging baskets in High Street, thanks to the Loughborough BID.
Both judges told the Echo after their tour that they had enjoyed the visit - and this is reflected in this year’s results.
Loughborough has once again won Gold and the Small City category title after scoring 184 points - nine more than second place Oadby and Wigston (175).
A Judges’ Award has been given to The Friends of Stonebow Washlands for the ongoing work at the local nature reserve.
An East Midlands in Bloom Committee Award has been handed to Harry and Pat Cook and the couple also achieved a Gold in the EMIB Frank Constable MBE Award for Best Residential Garden.
And Cobden Primary School achieved a Silver Gilt in East Midlands in Bloom Best School Garden 2017.
Andy Rush, Loughborough in Bloom chair and editor of the Echo, said: “It’s another fantastic achievement. Thanks to everyone’s great work.
“I think everybody in the town will agree that Loughborough has looked great this year and even better with the addition of new hanging baskets and the extra planters that are on the roadsides.
“And it’s great to hear our neighbours in Quorn have been so successful also.”
Chair of the Bloom Community Participation Group Marion Smith said: “I’m so proud of everyone, all are so enthusiastic.
“It’s not just a competition, but a celebration of what’s happening here in Loughborough.”
Loughborough in Bloom joined East Midlands in Bloom in 2009 and won Silver in the Small City category in its debut year.
Since then, including this year’s results, it has earned Gold seven times and been the category winner on seven occasions also.
Sarah Ritchie, contracts manager at Charnwood Borough Council, told the Echo: “We’re absolutely delighted for Loughborough and all the hard workers in the community that make Bloom. We could not achieve such success year on year without them.”
Coun Hilary Fryer, Charnwood Borough Council’s cabinet member for open spaces and leisure services, said: “I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been involved this year. This is a wonderful achievement for our town.”