Market Harborough Takes Top In Bloom Title For Fifth Year Running

Market Harborough’s In Bloom team is celebrating after winning the East Midlands in Bloom competition for a fifth successive year.

The volunteer gardeners picked up the Large Town title and a Gold award, as the group celebrates its 30th year.

It is also the 16th consecutive year the town has received a Gold award.

Angela Randall heads up the In Bloom team and spoke to HFM after the results were announced at a ceremony yesterday:

The town also received recognition for the work of individual volunteers.

Steve Damon received a Gold award after his front garden in Rutland Walk was named the best in the region.

He began working in the garden after ill health forced him to give up his gardening business, and four years ago discovered he was a victim of the infected blood scandal:

In Bloom volunteer Peter Eddie also received a Judges’ Award for his dedication to the team over the years.

More than 2,700 plants feature in floral displays across the town.

Ridgeway Primary Academy took home the silver award and judge’s discretionary award for its school garden.

The four-hour judging tour in July took in the town centre, Market Harborough railway station, Little Bowden Bowling Club, Union Wharf, Friendship Park, Welland Park and Ridgeway Primary Academy.

Judges assessed the town’s floral displays and environmental initiatives as part of the competition.

The In Bloom team is supported by Harborough District Council and its contractor FCC Environment, as well as businesses across the town which help maintain and enhance many of the floral displays.

Meanwhile, Lubenham in Bloom won the village category for the third year in a row:

Lubenham Crowned Best Village For Third Year In East Midlands In Bloom

Everyone involved in Market Harborough In Bloom is being praised:

Volunteers Praised after Fifth Successive In Bloom Success