News RSS Feed


Town wins gold bloom award

2:42pm Friday 2nd October 2009


BICESTER is blooming – that’s the verdict of Thames and Chilterns in Bloom judges.

The town picked up gold in the large town section of the competition, beating more than 20 competitors from across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

It will now go on to represent the region in the UK finals next year for the second time in three years.

Awards were announced at a ceremony at Newbury Town Hall, where Bicester mayor James Porter and deputy mayor Richard Mould collected the crystal vase and gold certificate.

Judges visited in July and awarded the town 48 out of 50 for community involvement, largely thanks to organisations such as the Green Gym and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BCTV).

They looked for horticultural achievement including conservation and natural areas, as well as community activities to improve the environment.

Mr Mould, Bicester in Bloom chairman, said: “This is a tremendous achievement and a great credit to our staff at the town council. I inherited it and it has all worked out very nicely – all credit to previous chairman Carol Steward.

“It was a difficult year and we had a few problems with the planting.

“The support we get from the Green Gym and BTCV is fantastic.

“It’s groups like that which show community support, and that was what the judges were looking for.”

Mr Porter said the win was down to the town and district councils, businesses and the community pulling together.

He added: “It was a delightful surprise to win. To find out there were only five gold awards and we were the top scoring gold award was fantastic.”

Pete Thompson, chairman of Thames and Chilterns in Bloom said: “The commitment by all entrants is tremendous.

“I would like to thank all local bloom committees for their continued support of the campaign and wish Bicester every success next year when they will be representing our region in the national finals.”

Britain in Bloom is the largest horticultural event in Europe.


More News stories

Your Say YourOxford

bcester1, bicester says...
10:33pm Mon 5 Oct 09

Do bicester council tax payers have a say in all of the money that you spend just to win a flower show? Surely all of those thousands of pounds would be better spent on something worthwhile.. and why are all of the Bicester in Bloom flowers only near the Village, town centre and Garth?
Who decides how many tens of thousands we spend on flowers just for this competition? I for one think that if it was put to the vote, most residents wouldn't want their money spent this way.
I would be interested to hear what others think.

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

Nick Mawer, Bicester says...
3:08pm Tue 6 Oct 09

Hi bcester 1, all Town Councillors, and I am one, are delighted to hear from residents about their views on how council tax should be spent. Our contact details are public, and you can talk to us individually, or come to a town council committee meeting and have your say. Ultimately if enough people don't agree with our decisions, you have the chance to elect somebody else every four years.
As it happens, I think that the floral decoration of Bicester has great value for the town. People who live in a "nice" environment, tend to look after that environment better. The floral decoration has a positive impact on tourism, and on the economic life of the town.
Please remember that a lot of the hard work that went into Bicester winning this award was put in by volunteers.
I think that we should be proud of our town and the way it looks.



Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

bcester1, bicester says...
4:05pm Tue 6 Oct 09

So basically what you are saying is the councillors decide that you are going to enter these competitions, and spend tax payers money on it... even if there are volunteers helping, you still have to purchase the plants etc. And it's ok saying we should like a "nice" environment to live in... but you don't put the flowers in most peoples environments... like I stated before.. Garth, Bicester Village, Town Centre.
When I walk my dogs around Bicester, depending which area I am in..and I do cover alot of it in the evenings.. I can walk a great distance in between dog litter bins..one housing estate is a lot worse than others... surely spending a bit of money on essentials like this would benefit the town rather than a few flowers that only last long enough for them to have their photographs taken for a competition.

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

Nick Mawer, Bicester says...
4:32pm Tue 6 Oct 09

Hi Bcester 1, the answer to your first point is yes. Dog bins are also provided by the Town Council. If you feel that your particular area does not have enough dog bins, then as a first step, contact your ward councillors, details of whom can be found on Bicester Town Council website. http://www.bicester.
gov.uk/Core/Bicester
TownCouncil/Pages/Co
uncillors_3.aspx

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

bcester1, bicester says...
8:53am Wed 7 Oct 09

I have been contacting your town council for at least 3 years but they always say they can't afford to put more bins in the town...probably because you had to buy more flowers!

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

Nick Mawer, Bicester says...
11:02am Wed 7 Oct 09

Dear bcester 1 - if you would like to identify yourself, I can check up on your claims.

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

Comments are closed on this article.

From left, deputy mayor Richard Mould; Chris Johnson of Bicester Town Council; Brian Corcoran, head gardener and mayor James Porter From left, deputy mayor Richard Mould; Chris Johnson of Bicester Town Council; Brian Corcoran, head gardener and mayor James Porter


Local Advertisers

Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »