Launch of Northumbria in Bloom 2010
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE 8 MARCH 2010
"DIG FOR VICTORY WITH NORTHUMBRIA IN BLOOM"
Northumbria in Bloom launched their 2010 competition today at the prestigious Wynyard Hall near Stockton. Over 200 competitors and representatives of local authorities were welcomed by the Mayor of Stockton on Tees, Cllr Paul Kirton.
The chairman of Northumbria in Bloom, Mrs Eileen Burn, began by thanking Stockton Borough Council for hosting this event. She congratulated Stockton on achieving the Best City trophy and a Gold Medal in the national 2009 Britain in Bloom competition. She said that the representatives and residents of Stockton were great ambassadors for the north east. Their achievements had been further recognised as Stockton is one of only two British entries to the European horticultural competition Entente Floral 2010.
Mrs Burn said how pleased the organisers were that in spite of cutbacks and local council reorganisation the number of entrants had remained as high as last year with 92 villages, towns and cities from across the region taking part. "The bye-line for Northumbria in Bloom is "Communities growing together" and it is heartening to see how many communities continue to see this competition as a positive focus for local pride," she commented.
She went on to announce developments in this year's competition. These included a new Northumbria in Bloom competition for schools in the north east called "Growing Together". This competition will be judged during the month of June, with awards being presented before the end of the summer term. Mrs Burn explained that the Special Award for schools in the competition, which is known as the Rod Leyburn Award, had become so popular with judges that they were spending too long inspecting all the wonderful growing projects in which school children are involved.
"Having made the decision to develop a new competition for schools" said Mrs Burn, "we had a wonderful piece of serendipity. The widow of Rod Leyburn, Mrs Diane Bainbridge, phoned me out of the blue, asking if we still had the children's award because it was 25 years ago that the award was first presented. I was able to tell her of our developing competition, and as a result not only is she here with us today, but she will be involved also in the new Growing Together schools competition. We are delighted to be able to continue the link with Rod Leyburn, who was known as "Mr Flowers" by schoolchildren in his day."
Guest speakers at the presentation were Mr Roger Burnett, chairman of the judges of Britain in Bloom, who gave suggestions on ways for councils and communities to work together to produce the best horticultural results for their areas; Mrs Anne Higgins, the area organiser for national award-winning Eston in Bloom. Eston won a silver gilt award in last year's Britain in Bloom competition where Mrs Higgins also won a personal discretionary Britain in Bloom Community Champion award of which only six are awarded annually. Another Northumbria in Bloom personality, Mrs Verna McNaughton was also presented with the Britain in Bloom Community Champion award last year. Paul Dobson of Stockton Borough Council gave a talk on Stockton's journey to success and Mr Jim Ainslie of Nomix Enviro,gave a talk on current approved methods of weed and pesticide control.
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For further details please contact
Eileen Burn, Northumbria in Bloom, 01434 270228 or 07532 427740 or
Vince Rutland, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, 01642 526097
Northumbria in Bloom – background information
Northumbria in Bloom is the voluntary organisation that administers the Britain in Bloom competition in Northumberland, Durham, Tyne and Wear and Teesside. Britain in Bloom is one of the most effective and longest running, environmental competitions in the UK and each year it grows in size and importance and involves more people, groups and organisations within the community.
The show of flowers and shrubs in our communities, the reclamation and landscaping of marginal and derelict land, the enhancement of our towns and pride in our villages is the aim and indeed the success of the competition.
None of this could be achieved without the enthusiasm of the whole community working together to improve their local environment. Recognition that involvement in Britain in Bloom can bring achieve positive results is an important factor and often the catalyst for action.
The three core pillars of Britain in Bloom are:
Horticultural Achievement (50% of marks)Environmental Responsibility (25% of marks)Community Participation (25% of marks)
Small and large villages, towns and cities in the region are judged in both Spring and Summer.
A new Northumbria in Bloom competition for schools, "Growing Together," is launched this summer.
Special awards are also made for conservation projects, business parks, hospitals, parks, etc. The competition contributes to the regeneration of our towns and cities and helps to provide an attractive environment for both visitors and the local community.
Awards are presented in September each year. Silver trophies are awarded for category winners, and gold, silver-gilt, silver and bronze level certificates are awarded to the entrants.
For further information visit www.northumbriainbloom.co.uk
