BEDFORD CELEBRATES BRITAIN IN BLOOM

The team behind Bedford in Bloom were celebrating into the early hours of this morning after coming top of the class at the national Britain in Bloom awards in Birmingham last night.

Bedford in Bloom was awarded a 'Silver Gilt' award - a fantastic improvement on last year's silver and the highest award given to any of the competing teams in the Large Town/Small City category. The Royal Horticultural Society, describe the Silver Gilt as awarded to: "…a high standard entry which exemplifies best practise in multiple areas and includes sections of exceptionally high standards".

Bedford faced stiff competition from towns/cities who had all been invited to enter the prestigious national competition after winning gold awards at their regional 'In Bloom' competitions.

Britain in Bloom judges visited Bedford in August. In delivering their verdict last night they remarked:

"Bedford Park must be one of the most pleasing parks in the UK."

"The Embankment Gardens has a display that would put many resort towns to shame."

"The co-operation that was shown between the council on the one hand with the many organisations an volunteers on the other seems to be the key to the remarkable progress being achieved."

Graham Burley, a representative of Riverfield Residents Association, who attended the awards last night said: "This brilliant result at the national awards shows that the people of Bedford are really pulling together to improve the environment and through this putting Bedford on the map amongst the best in the country!

"This result and the judge's comments show there's a lot, lot more to Bedford than meets the eye."

Liberal Democrat Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "I would like to congratulate everyone involved with Bedford in Bloom for another successful summer. Improving on last year's efforts with a Silver Gilt award this year is testament to everyone's hard work and dedication."

The 'In Bloom' awards are the largest horticultural and environmental campaign in Europe and are run by the Royal Horticultural Society.

The success in Birmingham last night highlighted Bedford Borough's best ever year of In Bloom success:

Britain in Bloom:

Bedford in Bloom : Silver Gilt

Anglia in Bloom:

Bedford in Bloom: Gold Award (third year in a row)

Kempston in Bloom: Silver Award

Queens Park in Bloom: Silver Award

Kingsbrook & Cauldwell in Bloom : Results to be announced in November

Brickhill in Bloom: Results to be announced in November