Tamworth wins In Bloom gold for third year

The Olympics gold rush may be over, but Tamworth is still celebrating after taking gold in this year’s Heart of England in Bloom campaign – for the third year running.

The borough is celebrating after impressing the judges with its Jubilee-themed entry to take a coveted Gold award in the Small City category of the Heart of England in Bloom competition.

This is a golden hat-trick for the borough, which was also awarded the highest honour in the campaign last year and in 2010.

And there was double delight at the award ceremony when it was announced that Tamworth had also won a discretionary award – the Community Achievement Award – for the Wild about Tamworth partnership with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.

This award is particularly special as it pays tribute to the work and involvement of the community – recognising that Tamworth In Bloom is about a lot more than just the flowers.

Judges Mike Garwood and Nicola Clarke visited Tamworth in July, where they were given an informative presentation at the TIC, before boarding a fire engine which took them on a tour of the borough – taking in sights including the Royal-themed raised flower beds on the Moor Street island, Wigginton Park, Tamworth Railway Station, Glascote Cemetery, Tamworth Community Fire Station, Bright Crescent, Ventura Park, the Castle Grounds, Tamworth Market, St Editha’s Square, the churchyard, Little Church Lane and the Almshouses.

And now, the waiting is over, after the judges announced that Tamworth’s hard work has paid off with the awarding of the much sought-after Gold and the highly-prized Community Achievement Award.

Wild About Tamworth is a partnership between Tamworth Borough Council, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and the communities of Tamworth to improve the borough’s wild places to benefit both people and wildlife.

The project designates sites as Local Nature Reserves and establishes Friends Of groups to manage the sites. Currently, Tamworth has seven Local Nature Reserves and is hoping to add an eighth with Broadmeadow.

The judges said: “The Wild About Tamworth project is a very impressive example of bringing a wide range of communities from across the borough together to improve their local environment in a cohesive and sustained manner.”

In the gold-winning general entry, areas of achievement singled out by the judges for particular praise were:

  • The Jubilee Rose Garden in the Castle Grounds
  • The Royal-themed raised beds on the Moor Street island
  • The Castle Grounds flower beds
  • Public house basket competition
  • Wigginton Park
  • Saxon Hound anti-dog fouling campaign
  • Work with schools
  • Extra floral baskets, boxes and basket trees

Read the judges' comments here.

Councillor John Garner, Chairman of Tamworth In Bloom, said: “I would like to pay tribute to the fantastic works by Street Scene, many other council services and those many Tamworth volunteers who have laboured in the various areas of our town to make this possible.

“Receiving a Gold Award in the general section is fantastic. But I am particularly delighted that the hard work of the community and our partnership with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust has been recognised with the Community Achievement Award. The award honours the fact that Tamworth In Bloom isn’t just about the flowers, it’s about the whole community working together. I feel very, very proud.

“I would also like to thank our many sponsors, whose valuable contributions gave added financial support to this wonderful achievement.”