Bracknell in Bloom

Bracknell received a Gold Award in the Small City’s category at the RHS Thames & Chilterns Regional Awards on the 21st September 2011. Bracknell also received the Best Floral Input Regional Award.

The annual Britain in Bloom campaign is the largest horticultural event in Europe and attracts nearly 2,000 entries from cities, towns and villages across Britain.  Thames and Chilterns in Bloom Judges visited Bracknell in July, and were taken on a tour of the town centre and surrounding area.  They were looking for all-round horticultural achievement and sustainability as well as assessing year round activities which not only improved the environment but involved participation from local communities.

The Judges said "The floral displays were superb; particularly the window boxes in the city centre which provided a panoramic view for all to enjoy.  The itinerary/tour very importantly involved many of the local community, including the jewel in the crown Ploughlands Community Garden which depicts the very ethos of the competition, neighbour helping neighbour to create an area to rest and enjoy each other’s company."

At the ceremony, two Bracknell Forest community groups received awards in the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood campaign. Ploughlands Community Garden was judged as an outstanding community project and Warfield Environment Group was judged as being a thriving project.  The Bracknell in Bloom Committee would like to pass on our warmest congratulations to both projects and everyone who helped us win the gold.

In 2010, Bracknell was awarded the coveted GOLD award for the Small City category and also scooped the Regional Award for Best Portfolio at the RHS Regional Awards ceremony held at Amersham on 30 September 2010.

David Harris, Landscape Services Manager for Bracknell Forest Council, was absolutely delighted to have collected these prestigious awards on behalf of the committee, beating tough competition from others in the Small City category.

The Bracknell in Bloom committee is particularly proud of the work that goes on behind the scenes all year round to keep Bracknell at its blooming best and would like to thank everyone involved, especially the Borough and Town Council landscaping teams who have worked hard to plant and look after the spectacular displays around the Borough.

An extract taken from the RHS Britain in Bloom Regional Judges' report;
'Bracknell continues to prove that the strength of its In Bloom entry is the varied and widespread input it gets from different parts of the Community'.

The judges witnessed a strong floral input in the town centre that brightened up the place on what was a dull summers day. This very good entry showed that it continues to develop what it has to offer on top of the well maintained public realm, commercial and residential areas with a range of environmental and community initiatives such as ‘Blooming Diversity’ areas and recycling of materials.

Areas of achievement included rhododendron collection at Lily Hill Park, use of green space to encourage wildlife and biodiversity, little if any litter/graffiti noticed throughout the tour and local involvement by schools and businesses in promoting community spirit.