Help Northampton Bloom this summer

Floral displays are already sprouting across the town as preparations for the 2019 competition take pace. And with ambitions for this year’s competition blooming, Northampton Borough Council is appealing to members of the public to get involved before entries close on 26 June.

The competition is open to everyone from novices to professional gardeners and the theme for this year’s displays is ‘'Pride in our Town'.

Planned public displays will include the flower carpet display on St Giles Square, the Shoe Last on Abington Street and the award winning Shoe Plant project, which celebrates the town’s shoe making heritage and sees displays pop up on street railings and business windows from July onwards.

These are in addition to the numerous planters and hanging baskets that will blossom in town centre streets over the next few weeks.

Councillor Mike Hallam, cabinet member for environment, said: “We are exceptionally proud of our achievements in the 2018 East Midlands in Bloom and Britain in Bloom competitions, which saw the town awarded Gold and the Silver Gilt respectively.

“As one of the highlights of the year and with another warm summer predicted, we hope that even more people will show off their pride in the town and get involved.”

Bloom volunteers to help with litter-picking, community gardening projects and making sure that Northampton’s blooms are ready for the East Midlands in Bloom judging day in the summer, are also being sought.

Anyone who would like to enter Northampton in Bloom or register as a Bloom volunteer, can sign up at bloom@northampton.gov.uk or by calling 01604 838092.