Jackie Brennand
A call has gone out to budding gardeners to step forward to spruce up their local community as part of the Chronicle’s new Grow Your Own campaign.
Shrewsbury in Bloom and the Shrewsbury Chronicle are joining forces this year to encourage individual neighbourhood schemes to enter the Heart of England Neighbourhood Awards.
Bloom committee members will help provide labour and materials for those prepared to undertake work in their community. Each scheme entered will be visited by horticultural experts and given awards based on the quality of improvement to the area – improvement, merit or outstanding achievement. The scheme is aimed at regenerating communities outside the town centre, with officials keen for groups from the north of the town to step forward with ideas.
Last year Shrewsbury won gold medals in the Entente Florale and the International Communities in Bloom Challenge under the stewardship of former chairman Stan Sedman. Jackie Brennand, who has taken over as chairman of the Shrewsbury in Bloom committee, said: “We are really excited about this year’s local initiative with the environmental focus to accompany the usual floral and sustainable planting schemes.
“We have focussed on central areas of Shrewsbury in recent years to facilitate the time restrictions on the judging route. This year this will not be a factor so I would like to offer a challenge to everyone to enter individual projects and make all areas of Shrewsbury a more pleasant place to work and live.”
“We wish to ensure the success of 2007 is repeated and it is our responsibility to cope with the aftermath of last year’s incredible chairman Stan Sedman.”
Anyone interested in receiving an application form should call 01743 281178. All submissions need to be received by Friday, April 11.