Belper Takes Best Large Town Category In East Midlands In Bloom Award

Belper has again been awarded ‘gold’ in the Large Town Category of East Midlands in Bloom and also won the Large Town Category.

The Judges also gave an award to Calders Corner – an area owned by Amber Valley Borough Council, that has been transformed by the Belper Gardening Club from a neglected open space to an attractive area.

Olwen Boe from Belper Gardening Club said: “I was very proud to be asked to attend the ceremony at Boston for East Midlands in Bloom, as the representative of Belper Gardening Club, and honoured to step up to the podium with John Nelson and Stewart Hopkinson to receive the certificates and the trophy.”

The Judges commented –

• The Field Lane water wheel and bridge on the Memorial Gardens were particularly impressive and that the floral displays in the town were outstanding.
• The entry was supported by great residential front gardens along Wyver Lane, Lowlands Road and Leighton Way and by the Lion, Talbot Hotel and the Grey hound public houses.
• Belper Railway Station and the work undertaken by Transition Belper is well worth viewing.
• Wyver Lane Nature Reserve goes from strength to strength.
• Strutts Community Rain Garden is an amazing concept.
• The Council and friends of Belper River Gardens have worked well together and have improved the planting displays in the River Gardens.
• The heritage aspect of the Tour is always interesting and a key feature of Belper’s entry.
• Business support for Bloom is good along with very good volunteering/partnership organisation participation.

Cllr John Nelson said: “It’s a tremendous achievement and we have every confidence that we shall do well in the National awards. The staff at the Borough Council and the Town Council and the community of Belper have done the Town proud.”

The town now eagerly awaits the results of its Britain in Bloom entry – the award ceremony is in Llandudno on 27 October.