Tamworth busy planting as ‘in Bloom’ takes shape

heart of England-bloom-Tamworth-competition

Street Scene teams from Tamworth Borough Council continue to be out in force over the next few weeks, working hard on the town’s floral displays in a bid to help Tamworth achieve gold for the ninth year in a row in the Heart of England in Bloom competition.

A year of hard work, planning and planting will soon reach its climax when the Heart of England in Bloom judges take a tour of the borough on Tuesday July 17.

This year’s campaign theme – Homecoming 2018, will celebrate three very important anniversaries - 100 years since the end of WW1, 100 years since Girlguiding Tamworth was formed and the 1,100th anniversary of ‘The Lady of the Mercians’, Aethelflaed’s death in Tamworth.

Moor Street island is starting to take shape with Street Scene teams working hard to plant the impressive World War 1 floral tribute and the statue of a First World War soldier made entirely of plants, will be newly-refurbished and revealed over the next few weeks.

The Castle Grounds is also blooming with the beautiful wisteria garden, rose garden and the stunning raised flower beds beneath the bandstand showcasing the Mercia flag and crown flower display.

Residents are being encouraged to get involved with making the whole of Tamworth look beautiful and it’s not too late for garden enthusiasts to show off their green talents and enter this year’s Tamworth in Bloom garden competition. Each year, Tamworth Borough Council holds two ‘Best in Bloom’ competitions to encourage green-fingered residents in the borough to make their gardens blooming marvellous and help Tamworth go for gold. 

The competitions are for individual gardens at homes across the borough, with a separate contest for the town’s sheltered housing accommodation schemes. Winners of both competitions will receive a top prize of garden centre vouchers. Anyone who lives in the borough can enter the garden competition. Whether it’s a huge garden with wild flower beds, or just a small square of grass, a hanging basket or a window box, gardeners can help Tamworth to strike gold for the ninth year in a row in the Heart of England in Bloom competition. Last year’s individual garden competition was fierce, with standards the highest ever seen. Lorna Epton of Repington Road South, Amington, was named the winner with her stunning garden.

Tamworth residents are also encouraged to join the in Bloom celebrations by taking photos of their favourite floral display across the borough or sharing a photo of their own garden display, plant or basket on social media. All you have to do is upload your picture to Tamworth Borough Council’s Twitter or Facebook page with the hashtag #TamworthinBloom and tagging @VisitTamworth.

Cllr John Chesworth, Cabinet member for Culture and Operational Services, said: “Street Scene staff and many community and voluntary organisations and businesses are very busy preparing and planting for this year’s Tamworth in Bloom.

“Residents and visitors to the town are definitely in for a treat as the Tamworth in Bloom displays take shape, but it’s not just about the town’s floral displays – we hope that people will get involved again across Tamworth to make sure that the whole borough is blooming and join our social media campaign #TamworthinBloom to share a favourite photo of a stunning display, or send a garden competition entry to Marmion House reception.

“The community and our staff are all working exceptionally hard to portray Tamworth at its best and we hope that the judges will be impressed enough to award the town gold for the ninth year running.”   

The closing date for entries to both competitions is 12 noon on Friday, July 20th. To enter just take a picture of your garden and either email it to Garden Competition at graphics@tamworth.gov.uk or drop a copy in to reception at Marmion House in Lichfield Street.

Watch the time lapse video of the bandstand beds being prepared and planted below: