Bury in Bloom celebrates after largest award wins since 2018
Bury in Bloom proudly showed off their awards this morning in the town’s Abbey Gardens after its most successful haul in four years.
Having been presented with a Gold Award certificate at the Britain in Bloom finals in London this month, it joined four golds, one silver gilt and two silver awards from the 2022 Anglia in Bloom competition.
Group co-ordinator David Irvine felt coming away with gold in the national competition against the likes of Blackburn, St Austell and eventual BID Town Centre and City Centre category winners Ulverston in Cumbria made for a good collection in Bury in Bloom’s year.
He added: “This is the biggest series of awards for Bury in Bloom since 2018.
“This was the first time we have been able to compete properly face to face since the pandemic and to end it with five gold awards as well as the silvers is such an amazing effort from everyone. This just outlines Bury as truly being a jewel in the crown of Suffolk.”
Judges for Britain in Bloom were particularly impressed with the group being 100 per cent ‘Peat-Free’ since 2021 following two years of trials.
Another project that caught their eyes was the installation of a major rainwater harvesting scheme which enables Bury in Bloom to be self sufficient when it comes to watering the nearly 500 hanging baskets and floral displays around the town.
During their visit the panel were also treated to a tour of the Abbey Gardens by the Bury Rickshaw team, viewing the Peacock in the Park (Bury in Plume) community art project, the central beds, and the floral labyrinth.
David said: “The overall impression we tried to create was one of a floral town tackling challenges in a changing climate while embracing 21st Century technology and we will continue to do that in the future.
“Bury in Bloom enjoys massive goodwill and is supported by the BID - Our Bury St Edmunds, business sponsors, our town and district councils as well as hundreds of volunteers, so thank you to all that help us achieve things like this.”
The group, which was founded by the Bury Society in 1986, also received special comments from the judges about its Greenfingers competition for schools, nurseries and care homes, its Bury in Plume community project by the Crafty Foxes and its work with Britannia House, a place that gives ‘supported and move-on’ emergency accommodation for men and women.
