main content We're blooming lovely - again

Bromley Council has scooped a top award at London in Bloom - for the fifth time in eight years. This year, the Council is the winner in two categories including the prestigious top prize in the ‘large city’ category and a special award in the ‘best permanent planting’ category - for the herbaceous border at Kelsey Park.

The awards were presented at Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall on Friday 16 September and were accepted by Bromley’s Mayor, Cllr. Mrs Joan Wykes OBE, Cllr. Neil Reddin, Executive Councillor for Community Safety and Leisure alongside Patrick Phillips, Head of Parks and Recreation and Alan James, co-ordinator of the borough’s entry.

The large city category - in which nine London boroughs competed - is not solely based on planting, as many people assume, but covers a wide variety of areas such as cleanliness, ecology, sustainability and community involvement.

Cllr. Neil Reddin, Executive Councillor for Community Safety and Leisure said: "Winning this award five times in eight years is proof of the borough’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of care for Bromley’s natural environment. Partnership between staff, park Friends groups, local people and businesses has made a crucial difference in maintaining our drive for excellence in cleanliness, ecology, sustainability and community involvement. Bromley can be very proud to win these awards."

Patrick Phillips, Head of Parks and Recreation said: “The standards set by the London in Bloom competition are extremely high and everyone has worked tremendously hard to make sure the borough looks its very best. Our efforts will not stop here though, because this excellent result means that Bromley could now be chosen to compete for the Britain in Bloom finals in 2006.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Judging took place during an official visit in July and two mystery visits at other times.