Tamworth in Bloom judging route is revealed
A year of hard work, planning and planting will soon reach its climax when the Heart of England in Bloom judges take a tour of the borough on Tuesday July 17.
Residents are being encouraged to get involved with making the whole of Tamworth look beautiful to help the borough take gold for the ninth year running, in the regional Heart of England in Bloom campaign.
The two judges –
This year’s campaign theme will celebrate three very important anniversaries - 100 years since the end of WW1, 100 years since the Girl Guides were formed in Tamworth and the1100th anniversary of ‘The Lady of the Mercians’, Aethelflaed’s death in Tamworth.
The judging tour will begin with a short presentation at Tamworth Town Hall, followed by the judges, along with the organisers of the Tamworth in Bloom campaign, being driven in a council Street Scene vehicle onto Holloway, along Lichfield Street to the Moor Street island, where they will get a view of the impressive World War 1 floral tribute and the statue of a First
The tour will then take in Tamworth Railway Station before visiting the Tameside Nature Reserve where they will meet volunteer representatives from Wild about Tamworth and Tame Valley Wetlands. The group will then be picked up in a limo, kindly donated for the day by sponsors – EF Edwards to travel to - Cheatle Court sheltered accommodation via the ‘boat island’. There they will meet the residents and Local Nature Reserve (LNR) volunteers.
The limo will then take the judges to Dosthill Park and past Wilnecote Cemetery, before arriving at Marlborough Way Community Fire Station where judges will meet teachers and pupils of Rawlett School, representatives from the probation services and volunteers from the community allotments.
The tour will then take in Ventura Park and Riverdrive, where the judges will be dropped off at the gates to the Castle Grounds.
They will then walk through the Castle Grounds, taking in the wisteria garden, rose garden, the stunning raised flower beds beneath the bandstand and the newly-refurbished Saxon Man and Torch Man and head to St Editha’s Square and War Memorial, where a special bell ringing will greet the judges and visitors. From here there will be a whistle stop visit to Tamworth Library to see its WW1 exhibits.
The final stop prior to the party heading into the castle for refreshments will be to Tamworth Brewery Company on Market Street. Judges will be offered the opportunity to sample the micro-brewery’s ‘Blooming’ ale, specially produced to honour this year’s Tamworth in Bloom.
Cllr John Chesworth, Cabinet member for Culture and Operational Services, said: “We are really looking forward to showing the judges the result of all the hard work which has been carried out not only by our Street Scene staff, but also the many community and voluntary organisations and businesses.
“But it’s not just about the floral displays and what’s happening on the route – we hope that people will get involved again across Tamworth to make sure that the whole borough is blooming.
“The community and our staff are all working exceptionally hard to portray Tamworth at its best and we hope that the judges will be impressed enough to award the town gold for the ninth year running.”
Don’t forget we have our resident and sheltered housing garden competitions running during the ‘in Bloom’ campaign. The closing date for entries to both competitions is 12 noon on Friday, July 20th. To enter just take a picture of your garden and either email it to Garden Competition at graphics@tamworth.gov.uk or drop a copy in to reception at Marmion House in Lichfield Street.
