Rhs Britain In Bloom Winners Announced

Broughshane, a village in Northern Ireland has scooped the top Award in RHS Britain in Bloom this year, and will be crowned Champion of Champions for 2007.

RHS Britain in Bloom, supported by Shredded Wheat, will award Broughshane, along with the 68 other winning towns, cities, villages and communities, on the 26th September in Coventry at a prestigious Awards Ceremony.

Chairman of RHS Britain in Bloom judges Jim Buttress said, “Broughshane is a real champion and has worked hard to win this top award. All the entries this year were of a high standard, particularly in view of the bad weather we had in most parts of the UK. These communities, no matter what award they achieved, have all proven that they have the community spirit and motivation to work together to make Britain’s towns, cities and villages even better places to live, work and holiday in.”

RHS Director-General Inga Grimsey added, “We are delighted to see the wonderful results this year and extend congratulations to all the award winners. Communities such as these really show how gardening can improve the environment for all and enrich people’s lives.”

The 68 finalists were judged throughout the summer by touring RHS judges who travelled the length and breadth of the UK looking for the quality of their floral displays, permanent landscaping, sustainable development, local environmental quality and public awareness.

The Awards will be presented at the Coventry Cathedral, hosted by Coventry in Bloom on the 26th September. There will be 14 Gold, 26 Silver Gilt, 24 Silver and four Bronze Achievements awarded.

RHS Britain in Bloom, organised by the Royal Horticultural Society and supported by Shredded Wheat, is the largest horticultural campaign in Europe. It encourages people to actively improve their local environments through cleanliness, sustainability and creative planting.

The Community Channel will feature a documentary on the campaign focussing on two of the entries, Rugby and Beeston, Leeds on 28th September at 9pm. The Community Channel is available 24 hours a day on Sky 539, Virgin TV 233 and from 6-9am on Freeview 87.

Also on 28th September at 8.30pm, BBC Gardeners World on BBC2 will take a closer look at finalist Upton upon Severn’s struggles with flooding this year and how their community spirit pulled them through the campaign.

Britain in Bloom communities also feature in another BBC2 series about the RHS, A Passion For Plants, Fridays on BBC2 at 8pm from 19 October.