Durham City will be ‘growing for gold’ as judging in the Britain in Bloom competition gets underway.
Judges from the Royal Horticultural Society are set to visit the city on Thursday (August 7) to put its blooming great credentials to the test.
Durham City was chosen by Northumbria in Bloom judges as a national Britain in Bloom finalist in the Large Town category. The city was the overall winner in the Large Town category of the Northumbria in Bloom contest in 2013.
Representatives from Durham County Council, a partner of the Durham in Bloom group and supporter of the Britain in Bloom competition, will be meeting judges to show off the various projects supporting the city’s entry.
The tour will include a visit to Durham Railway Station where young people on the Durham Agency Against Crime HAGGRID project are working to improve the area in a bid to raise their aspirations and change the way they are perceived in their communities.
Oliver Sherratt, Durham County Council’s head of direct services, said: “We are extremely honoured and delighted to be welcoming national Britain in Bloom judges to Durham to showcase the hard work of partners and volunteers in making the city a more attractive place to live, work and visit.
“Durham is a beautiful city, steeped in history, and we are very proud to be a finalist in the Large Town category of the Britain in Bloom competition.”
Cllr Brian Stephens, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “We would like to thank local residents, volunteers and organisations who have taken the time and effort to be involved in environmental projects and taskforces for the In Bloom campaign.
“Everyone has worked really hard in making the city look welcoming, as well as developing initiatives that will last well into the future.”
Sedgefield is also a finalist in the Small Town category of the Britain in Bloom competition. The entry is led by Sedgefield Town Council and Sedgefield in Bloom and supported by Durham County Council.
Britain in Bloom, which is now in its fiftieth year, is the UK’s biggest community gardening campaign, bringing volunteers, community groups and project workers from all over the country together to make a difference to local neighbourhoods through floral schemes and making improvements to the environment.
For more information visit www.durham.gov.uk/inbloom