Shrewsbury Town Council will once again be leading the town’s Heart of England in Bloom bid this summer after a brief break from the competition.
Last year the Town Council took a step back from the contest for a well-deserved rest after Shrewsbury was crowned Britain in Bloom’s Champion of Champions in 2014. Instead, the Council offered its support to Shrewsbury BID with its first entry into the floral competition.
Now the Town Council is back to lead Shrewsbury’s floral bid once more, with the support of members of the Shrewsbury in Bloom committee which includes several community volunteers and council officers from both the town and unitary authorities.
This year the town is entering the Small City category, as well as the Parks and Open Spaces class for The Quarry.
The Town Centre has already been transformed into a riot of colour, with staff working round the clock to complete the summer planting scheme.
Thousands of colourful blooms have now been planted out around town in the many hanging baskets, tubs and floral beds, with more than 30,000 plants alone apportioned for Shrewsbury’s 365-days-a-year show garden in the Dingle.
The Heart of England in Bloom judges are due to visit the town on July 27 when the many floral arrangements will be adjudicated against exacting criteria.
“Our staff take pride in upholding Shrewsbury’s reputation as a Town of Flowers and it’s a pride we hope extends to all of our residents, shops and businesses, especially with Bloom judging drawing near,” said Town Clerk, Helen Ball.
“With that in mind we would ask local people to adopt a steadfast intolerance towards any defacement to the floral displays within the town centre.”
Vandals have already damaged several planters, tubs and barrels in the past few weeks by stripping plants from their containers.
Gary Farmer, Operations Manager for Shrewsbury Town Council said: “Our staff are always devastated to see damage caused to the colourful displays they work so hard to maintain. We will be working with Police to identify the culprits and have a zero tolerance approach to this type of mindless vandalism.”
Members of the public are asked to call 101 immediately if they are witness to any damage being caused.
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