GARDENERS of Rugby’s public spaces are crossing their green fingers after judges from the England in Bloom competition were treated to a tour of the town.
The judges were shown around a number of the town’s horticultural highlights – including Caldecott Park, Rugby School, Swift Valley Country Park and the garden at Henry Hinde Infant School – on Tuesday (July 7).
The tour also included a visit to the new park currently being developed at Parkfield Road, Newbold.
While at Caldecott Park the judges found out more about the council’s innovative Edible Borders gardening project, which encourages residents to grow fruit and vegetables in community plots.
And the green-fingered team at Individual Support Solutions (ISS), who tend one of the plots at the park, were on hand to hail the benefits of ‘growing your own.’
Rugby Borough Council environment spokeswoman Coun Lisa Parker said: “Heart of England in Bloom and the council’s own Rugby in Bloom contests bring our community together to help make the borough a brighter, better place to live.
“I’m delighted the judges found Rugby at its blooming best during the tour, a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the council’s parks and open spaces team, schools, volunteers, businesses and community organisations.”
Heart of England in Bloom, part of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Boom campaign, encourages communities to transform the environment through gardening.
Rugby has won a gold award at Heart of England in Bloom seven years in a row, and this year has the honour of hosting the awards ceremony, which takes place in September.
