Chesterfield on the up in Bloom contest

Published by webmaster for Chesterfield Borough Council in Communities

Chesterfield is celebrating success in a major regional floral competition - for the second year in a row.
 
Last year, Chesterfield was named as a runner-up in the "Small City" category of the East Midlands in Bloom competition, receiving a Silver Medal.

In this year's competition, which held its awards ceremony today (Wednesday September 13), Chesterfield did even better by taking a Silver Gilt Medal, one step up from Silver.

Last year was the first time that Chesterfield had entered the competition, and councillors were delighted with their initial success.

"We are over the moon to have done even better this year", said Cllr Keith Morgan, the Borough's Lead Member for Sustainability and Environmental Services.

"We said last year that we aimed to do even better this time round, but we knew it was a tall order and that we had to work really hard to achieve it. This award is a credit to the Council staff who were involved in the project and especially to all the members of the community in Chesterfield who have supported us wholeheartedly."

Chesterfield's Silver Gilt award earned it runner-up status in the "Small City" category, alongside Mansfield behind the winners, Oadby and Wigston in Leicestershire. Both Oadby and Mansfield also won Silver Gilt Awards.

As well as the main award, there was a special Judges Award for Hunloke Community Centre and Spire Infants School, and a Neighbourhood Award - Certificate of Merit - for the Friends of Pevensey Green. All these impressed the judges with their contributions to the appearance of the town.

Judges who visited Chesterfield in July were specially impressed by floral displays in the town centre, train station and public parks, hanging basket supports incorporating a "Spire" motif and publicity banners on lamp-posts, based on designs by local schoolchildren and the involvement of schools.

Alongside its entry into East Midlands in Bloom, the Borough Council has also run a Chesterfield in Bloom competition, sponsored by local companies, which attracted more than 100 entries.

Results of the Chesterfield competition are due to be announced at a gala awards evening at the Winding Wheel on Thursday, September 21.

END

Press release issued 13th September 2006