Silloth wins Cumbria in Bloom Awards 2016
PRESS RELEASE – 8 September 2016
The Cumbria in Bloom Awards took place at the North Lakes Hotel in Penrith on Thursday 8 September 2016. A strong contingent from Silloth attended the Awards ceremony and were delighted with some brilliant results.
Silloth-on-Solway has won the Cumbria in Bloom Coastal Resort Trophy for the third year running and achieved a Gold Award. In addition, Silloth won the Friends of the Lake District Trophy for the Best Sustainable Development Town, the Allerdale Trophy for “Best in Borough” and the Rickerby Ltd Trophy, as Best Overall Town and Urban Community.
The Discovery Centre garden which is looked after by the Causewayhead WI ladies was runner up in the Special Category for the Continental Landscapes Trophy. Silloth Golf Club was runner up for the Cumbria Tourism Rose Bowl awarded to Self-catering Establishments & Visitor Attractions.
In addition, the Community Garden and the Heritage Rose & Bee Garden were individual winners of the Royal Horticultural Society ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ Awards, each gaining a Level 5 ‘Outstanding’ result. The Heritage Rose and Bee Garden was also winner of the Royal Horticultural Society ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ National Certificate of Distinction.
Vivian Russell was recognised for her ‘Outstanding contribution to Cumbria in Bloom’ with a ‘joint’ Community Champion Award, which acknowledges all the hours she has spent working on the Heritage Rose and Bee Garden, planting of the flower beds and planters on Criffel Street and supporting the various Silloth in Bloom projects this year.
Bill Jefferson, Chairman of Silloth in Bloom Community Group, Chair of Silloth Parks Committee and Allerdale Executive Portfolio Holder for Tourism attended today’s Cumbria in Bloom awards ceremony. He said after the event: “I am delighted that Silloth has been recognised with such a cluster of important awards. It reflects the new level which Silloth has reached over the past four years and is a credit to all members of our community, especially the volunteers and the town team. My thanks to them all.”
In recent years, Silloth has won several Cumbria in Bloom Awards but being told that Silloth had been nominated as a finalist in the UK wide RHS ‘Britain in Bloom’ Campaign has encouraged even more businesses, volunteers and local groups to get involved and the ‘Silloth in Bloom’ team was formed. The clear aim was to continue supporting existing volunteer projects and take innovative new ideas forward prior to judging day.
Tony Markley, Mayor of Silloth said “This is a fantastic achievement for the town of Silloth. Special thanks go to Bill Jefferson, who chaired the Silloth in Bloom team and to everyone involved over the last few years. Silloth is absolutely blooming and has gained the recognition it deserves.”
A dedicated Silloth in Bloom website was set up – https://sillothinbloom.wordpress.com/ – to provide on-line information about ‘Silloth in Bloom and the campaign to establish Silloth as a Cumbria and Britain in Bloom winner’. The Silloth in Bloom Facebook Page can be viewed at:- https://www.facebook.com/sillothinbloom/
The Cumbria in Bloom awards are a tremendous achievement for the whole town and reflects all the hard work and preparation put in by everyone concerned, over many months. The ethos of Cumbria in Bloom is the participation of people working together to help retain, develop and improve the environment of their own communities. This is something Silloth has very much taken on board and needs a huge pat on the back for what it’s achieved.
It is vital we try to maintain the high standards we’ve achieved, so if you have a few hours to spare and would be interested in lending a hand, then please get in touch.
Silloth was shortlisted as a finalist in the Britain in Bloom (BiB) national awards in the Small Coastal Town (less than 12000 population) category alongside contenders from St Brelade, Newcastle (NI), Bute, Mablethorpe, Filey and Tenby. We now have to patiently wait for the Britain in Bloom Awards Ceremony which takes place in Birmingham on 14th October 2016, at which time the competition winners will be announced.
For further information, photos and to arrange interviews, please contact
Wendy Jameson, Secretary of Silloth in Bloom. Email: townclerk@silloth-on-solway.co.uk Mobile: 0777 5686857.
ENDS