HEREFORD IN BLOOM AIMS FOR GOLD
It is appropriate in Olympic Year that the newly reformed Hereford in Bloom group should be aiming to win Gold in the annual prestigious Britain in Bloom competition. 2012 is a very special year for the city. At the end of May, the Olympic Torch will be coming to Hereford as part of its nationwide tour and in July it is anticipated that the City will be hosting a Royal Visit. This year it is Hereford’s turn to host the renowned Three Choirs Festival in July and will welcome visitors from around the world to this international music event.
Lets celebrate
With so much to celebrate Hereford in Bloom, supported by Hereford City Council, Herefordshire Council’s parks department and the council’s partners Amey, is already making big plans to ensure the city is in splendid shape to welcome all its visitors, royal or otherwise, this summer. Not only will its streets be a blaze of glorious floral colour – red, white and blue, naturally - but Union Jack flags will create regal avenues and the opportunity will be taken to plant lots of new trees and to rid the city of any eyesores. Hereford in Bloom also plans a number of landmark projects to commemorate such a momentous year and is inviting local organisations and companies to come up with ideas and financial support.
Volunteers
The volunteers who run this important civic group are determined the city will regain the Gold status it held for four successive years until lack of support resulted in Hereford withdrawing from the competition in 2007. But with a new and enthusiastic team in place Hereford was back in the national competition in 2011 and the judges from the regional Heart of England in Bloom awarded the city a credible Silver Medal.
Hereford first entered Britain in Bloom – a competition set up to build Civic Pride – back in 1999 with Andrew Lamputt as chairman, Trevor Swindells as secretary and Roger Peaker as treasurer and with the expert guidance of parks manager, Geof Tarring. The late Lady Alexander Cotterell was a hard working Patron in those early days.
Who’s Who
Clive Richard OBE DL is Patron of the new Hereford in Bloom with Trevor Swindells and Geof Tarring acting as co-chairmen, Olena Barrett – secretary, Richard Weston, formerly general manager of Chadds – treasurer and George Thomas, ex-Bulmers PR manager as publicity officer. The Mayor, Cllr Julie Woodward serves on the committee as do Angela Pendleton one of the founders of Leominster in Bloom who played a key role in resurrecting the Hereford group, Mo Burns, member of Hereford Civic Society and the Tree Forum, Andrew McElhayer, secretary of the Widemarsh Street Traders Association, and Mikolaj Kaskala, representing Amey.
How to contact us
To contact Hereford in Bloom for more information, sponsorship opportunities, offers of help or to volunteer e-mail Olena Barrett on admin@herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk or Geof Tarring on gtarring@herefordshire.gov.uk
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