Blooming fantastic Chesterfield achieves golden treble

Gardeners in Chesterfield have proved they are not so much green fingered as gold fingered after the borough scooped six East Midlands in Bloom awards.

Chesterfield received the Overall Gold Award in the small city category for the third year running, with a score of 179 out of 200, compared to 173 points 12 months ago.

Residents, businesses and community projects in the borough picked up five further awards from the judges. The winners are:

• Holme Hall Unite, who received a special award as the most inspirational project out of 105 projects in the East Midlands region, as well as a ‘thriving’ level 4 award in the It’s Your Neighbourhood programme. The scheme saw the community group work with Chesterfield Borough Council’s housing service and staff from Marks & Spencer to transform a piece of land within their community.
• The Britannia Pub in Brampton, which got a gold award in the best pub/hotel category.
• Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa in Brimington, which picked up a gold award in the Best Commercial Premises category.
• Inspire Community Garden, off Ashgate Road, who received a judges’ award for their work to create a community gardening space.
• Jane Land, from Walton, who received a gold award in the Frank Constable category for the quality of the front garden at her house.

The borough’s entry is coordinated by the Chesterfield in Bloom committee, which is managed by Chesterfield Borough Council but involves volunteers and community groups who give up their time to work on projects to keep the area’s streets and open spaces attractive places to live, work and visit.

In their overall remarks the judges – Richard Stephen, Caroline Pollard and Martha Woorsching – said: “There was evidence of the campaign going from strength to strength. We were given a real sense of the passion and dedication of all those involved. Well done Chesterfield.”

John Ramsey, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Principal Greenspaces Officer, said: “To achieve the gold East Midlands in Bloom award standard for the third year in a row is a real achievement for the borough.”

“A huge amount of hard work goes in to keeping the borough’s streets, parks and open spaces attractive places to be and this award recognises the efforts of Chesterfield Borough Council staff and the many community volunteers who work throughout the year to improve the quality of life for Chesterfield residents.”

“It is a real team effort as has been shown by the fact that so many projects in the borough have received gold awards in addition to the main one.”