Stourbridge in Bloom campaigners "delighted" after latest gold victory (From Stourbridge News)

Stourbridge in Bloom campaigners "delighted" after latest gold victory

9:00am Thursday 20th September 2012 in News

STOURBRIDGE in Bloom volunteers say they are “delighted” after scooping yet another gold gong in the Heart of England in Bloom campaign.

The accolade - the town’s fifth gold - was awarded at a ceremony last Thursday (September 13) at All Saint’s Church, Kings Heath, Birmingham, to organiser David Harcourt who was also presented with the 2012 Chairman’s Award.

Mr Harcourt said he was particularly proud of the win as the town has faced upheaval this year due to the ongoing works on the old Crown Centre site, which is being transformed into a massive Tesco superstore.

He said: “We’re delighted. We were concerned about the disruption and whether that would have any impact on our campaign but the judges were really impressed with what we’d done.”

Heart of England in Bloom chairman Mike Garwood said during this year’s visit to the town in July that he was pleased to see “work in progress” and the development had only left a “good impression” on himself and fellow judge Nicola Clarke who praised Stourbridge’s voluntary groups and their efforts to tidy the town - especially those working to save the River Stour.

Mr Harcourt’s individual award acknowledged his dedication to the Bloom campaign. The Stourbridge supermarket manager and Chamber of Trade events co-ordinator has steered the town to gold award victory on five successive occasions and last year Stourbridge was invited to enter the national Bloom awards.

However, the offer was declined due to the continuing redevelopment works in the town.

The judges said they would be keen to see the finished development in future and at the awards ceremony they praised the town’s hanging baskets, pubside floral displays, refurbished street furniture, the National Ceanothus and Rudbeckia collections at Wollescote Park and Mary Stevens Hospice’s sensory garden.

They also described Old Swinford Hospital School’s grounds as “outstanding” and presented a discretionary award for grounds maintenance to the Heath Lane school.

Headmaster Peter Jones said the school campus had been totally transformed over the last five years and he added: “We are delighted the school has received this prestigious award and it recognises the hard work, dedication and creativity of our highly committed and talented maintenance and grounds staff team.”