Experience Guildford Representing South East In Bloom Finals

Published on: 10 Feb, 2015
Updated on: 10 Feb, 2015

Experience Guildford has been selected from more than 1,000 entrants to take part in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom UK Finals 2015, representing the South East.

Seventy communities across the UK have been selected for this honour, including towns, villages, cities, urban communities and new in 2015, business improvement districts (BID).

One of Experience Guildford’s planting schemes in Phoenix Court.

The South East nominated Experience Guildford to the national finals of the competition following the regional stage of judging in 2014. Experience Guildford was selected for engaging every element of the community, for demonstrating an exceptional commitment to helping the environment and for top horticultural achievement. It will be joining London Bridge and Melton Mowbray in the Business Improvement District category.

Although the campaign runs all year round, the run-up to the judges’ August tour is a time when communities throughout the UK unite and redouble their efforts.

Experience Guildford will be visited by two RHS judges who will meet community representatives and go on a tour of local projects. Judges will assess everything from local recycling initiatives to areas of natural habitat and conservation. They’ll also be looking at the management of street furniture and public parks, and will be assessing how well the group is responding to climate change and how they are engaging the community in their local bloom activities.

Results will be announced at an awards ceremony in October.

Amanda Masters, general manager at Experience Guildford said: “2014 was our first year entering South & South East in Bloom and we are delighted to be representing the South East within the BID category of the UK finals this year.

“The ethos behind the BID is for town centre businesses to collectively work together to create a better trading environment and initiatives such as BID in Bloom are a great example of such collaborative working.”

Stephanie Eynon, RHS community horticulture manager, said: “It isn’t about who beats who in the UK Finals – it’s about what volunteers are doing for their community – at the end of the day, every participating community is already a winner. Well done Experience Guildford and good luck!”

Experience Guildford worked collaboratively with Guildford Borough Council to create more attractive green spaces in the town centre and with St Mary’s Church and also Merrist Wood College to create a haven for flowers and wildlife.

For more information on RHS Britain in Bloom www.rhs.org.uk/communities