Town looks its best for Britain in Bloom
Newcastle is looking at its finest for two rounds of Britain in Bloom judging.
Judging took place yesterday for this year’s regional round of the competition and - as the 2022 winner in the Heart of England region small city category - the town will be inspected again next week as a finalist in the 2023 national competition.
Judges toured the town, seeing set-piece displays, community projects and meeting some of the community groups and volunteers involved.
Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said: “We are proud to call Newcastle our home and want it to look its very best, day in, day out.
“This competition brings together residents, businesses, schools and community groups, as well as a wide range of volunteers, all working to make this a better place and this year has been no different – it’s heartening to see people working together this way for the common good.”
Queens Gardens has been planted with annual bedding on the theme of the 850th celebrations, and the entry also takes a sustainable approach by providing herbaceous and perennial planting on town centre roundabouts, including pollinators, and native tree planting as part of the Urban Tree Planting Strategy, including a Lyme Forest incorporating 850 lime trees.
Such has been the council’s consistently high standards, the borough has won Gold in the regional small city category for 20 years in a row, as well as taking a hat-trick of regional championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In recent years it’s also won the national ‘small city’ title and a gold award in the Champion of Champions round.
Judging considerations include the range of plant species, diversity and how it supports wildlife; art in the landscape, restoration of habitats and ecological practices; and evidence of year-round activity and community engagement.
This year volunteers have already donated the equivalent of 4,000 hours of work, while 14,662 trees have been planted across 12 sites.
Cllr Tagg added: “Obviously judges look at the eye-catching set-pieces but they’re also interested in measuring our contribution to sustainability, recycling and energy conservation.
“And once the judging is finished, we’re left with long-term improvements to areas in need of a facelift, environmental improvements and strengthened links between community groups.
“Win or lose, we all benefit from this in the long term.”