Britain in Bloom volunteers in Milton Keynes celebrate success at regional awards

Milton Keynes towns have once again seen success in the regional Britain in Bloom competition.

Stony Stratford in Bloom (SSIB) volunteers were ecstatic to learn last Wednesday that they had gained a Gold Award once again, as they did last year, at an awards ceremony near Reading.

Wolverton, which enters as an Urban Community, gained a Silver Gilt award. Volunteers will learn later how they have fared in the National Finals, where they are representing the region in the Urban Community Category. In the Parks Category, it was Gold again for Alan Marham, who manages the Open University park with its beautiful and varied plants, and sustainable landscaping.

Each year the Regional Britain in Bloom competition gives out special regional awards, and Wolverton gained a special award for celebrating the town’s heritage so effectively.

There were spectacular results too for Stony Stratford’s two Its Your Neighbourhood groups. The North End Pond Project and the York House Community Gardens were both assessed as Level 5, ‘Outstanding’, the highest grade.

Mary Robinson and Ron Cox, who spearhead the North End Pond Project, were thrilled to be awarded the RHS Certificate of Distinction, awarded to the best Its Your Neighbourhood project in the region.

There were warm words from the judges for Bletchely’s Sensory Garden Its Your Neighbourhood Group, which has only been in existence for two years.

Pupils of St Mary and St Giles Junior School, Stony Stratford, were delighted to learn that they had achieved a Highly Commended Certificate in the Mark Mattock Schools Competition.

On Thursday, Stony Stratford in Bloom volunteers were busy preparing for the arrival of the Mayor of Milton Keynes for the official opening of SSIB’s two Ten Year Anniversary Beds. He first cut the ribbon on the new and colourful flower bed along Slade Lane, Fullers Slade where SSiB volunteers, Fullers Slade residents and pupils from St Mary and St Giles School south side were on hand to join in the celebrations. Pupils had helped plant the annuals.

The Mayor visited the new library bed where the town clerk, representatives from McCarthy and Stone, who had sponsored the plants, plus other sponsors, SSIB volunteers, the waterer, librarians and children from St Mary and St Giles School North Side, were gathered for the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon and the unveiling of the 10 discs representing the gold and silver gilt awards Stony Stratford has won over the last 10 years.

A temporary gold disc was slipped into place to reflect the gold award achieved this year – bringing the total of gold awards won to 7 in 11 years.