Blooming marvellous – Chesterfield scoops gold awards!
Chesterfield has picked up three gongs in the annual East Midlands in Bloom awards – including two gold prizes.
It is the first time the town has picked up the top award, having held the silver gilt award for the past two years.
Judges went on a tour around the borough in July which included stops at:
- Eastwood Park
- Spire School
- Rufford Close allotments
- Britannia pub
- Town centre
- Holmebrook Valley Park
- Pevensey Green Community Project
- Ringwood Hall
- Chesterfield and District Crematorium grounds
The East Midlands in Bloom judges have now decided to award Chesterfield a gold in the small city category and Ringwood Hall a gold in the best hotel/pub garden or display category. The Rufford Close Allotments community group picked up a special judges’ award for having a ‘very clean and well organised site’.
The tour and town’s entry into the competition was organised by Chesterfield Borough Council and the Chesterfield in Bloom committee.
Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:-
“We are delighted to get the gold award for the first time as we have been working towards this for several years, having previously held the silver gilt award.
“The judges were particularly impressed by the work of the Chesterfield in Bloom committee, which was set up last year to bring together residents and representatives from community groups, friends of park groups, allotment associations, councillors and council officers to work on improving the town.
“We were assessed on a variety of different criteria including bulb and tree planting, floral displays, litter collection and cleanliness, conservation work and recycling.
“The gold award is a testament to the hard work going on across the town by Chesterfield Borough Council and community groups to make our borough a clean, green and inviting place for residents and visitors alike.”
In their comments the East Midlands in Bloom judges praised the progress made in the town since their last visit in 2015.
They said:-
“The tour showcased many key areas of Chesterfield and it was great to see that the community and local businesses were working together.
“The Chesterfield in Bloom group is well supported by Chesterfield Borough Council – a combination that has taken this entry from strength to strength.
“The children we met on the tour were a real highlight and their enthusiasm was infectious. Congratulations to all involved as Chesterfield achieves its first gold award.”
Chesterfield in Bloom is a council-led project to improve the borough’s environment and forms part of the borough’s entry into the East Midlands in Bloom competition.
The award winners in this year’s Chesterfield in Bloom competition will be announced at an award ceremony at Ringwood Hall on Monday 26 September. The event will also celebrate the town’s success in the East Midlands in Bloom awards.
