09 September 2011
It was good news and smiles all round at the South & South East in Bloom awards ceremony last Wednesday, as the City’s ‘Salisbury in Bloom’ entry won a Silver Gilt and an award as the best City Centre in the South & South East region.
Salisbury in Bloom Coordinator Chris Stringer said, “I am delighted, this is a definite improvement on last year’s Silver award and reflects the commitment and efforts of a great number of individuals, groups and organisations in Salisbury. From the businesses & shops that sponsor or arrange displays; to the schools, residents and community groups that make Salisbury a brighter, greener city.”
The competition, the regional section of Britain in Bloom, recognises horticultural achievement; environmental responsibility and community participation – meaning that it’s about more than just flowers!
Chris added, “Salisbury in Bloom is about taking pride in our city - keeping it clean and tidy and making it a welcoming place.”
And every effort helps, whether it’s small or large: “We had a group of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust volunteers working on Harnham Slope this summer and they were just brilliant,” said Chris. “They’ve made a huge difference to the area and they did it because they wanted to do something outdoors for the community and the city. At the same time though, every single person who puts their litter in a bin instead of throwing it on the ground helps keep Salisbury looking great – where’s the difficulty in that.”
There are plenty of flowers too. “Summer is such an important time of the year in Salisbury,” said Councillor Susan Thorpe, Leader of Salisbury City Council. “Everyone involved in the Bloom entry likes to make sure the city looks the part.
It really is a team effort! The City Council works alongside Wiltshire Council, Salisbury City Centre Management and Salisbury’s fantastic business community to arrange nearly 19,000 flowers in Salisbury – and that’s before we add in all of the flowers in our parks!”
To find out more about Salisbury in Bloom, including how to get involved, contact Chris on 01722 3428678 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
