Pride of the Borough

This page contains information on Pride of the Borough and East Midlands in Bloom. It also gives information on floral displays.

East Midlands in Bloom

East Midlands in Bloom is part of the national Britain in Bloom competition. Oadby and Wigston's entry is organised, in conjunction with the Council, by the Pride of the Borough group. Further information can also be found on the East Midlands in Bloom web site.

Pride of the Borough

Pride of the Borough is a community group, working with Oadby and Wigston Borough Council to organise Oadby and Wigston's entry into East Midlands in Bloom. Please visit the Pride of the Borough web site for more information.

East Midlands in Bloom results 2011

It has been a busy year for Pride of the Borough organising our entry into the regional East Midlands in Bloom competition, representing the region in the prestigious national Britain in Bloom finals and hosting the regional awards ceremony.

We are delighted that we once again achieved a Gold in the East Midlands in Bloom competition for the second year. Each year every point has to be earnt again and the improved score shows an improving standard we can all be proud of. We did not win our category, Loughborough beat us by the narrowest of margins such is the high standard of our category.

Little Hill Primary School represented us in the regional best school competition and achieved a very creditable high scoring Silver Gilt. The entry shows the tremendous work that staff and pupils have done to develop their gardens involving the whole school in growing their own vegetable sand creating a greater awareness of the environment.

Evelyn Brooker of Wigston, winner of our own competition for the last two years, represented us in the regional best front garden and achieved a gold award. Evelyn ably supported by her husband Rupert, have created a superb garden and fully justify the level of their achievement. They have been very supportive of encouraging friends neighbours and relatives to enter the local competition.

The judges also recognised the work of the volunteers at Brocks Hill Country Park with a Judges Award. Led by Helen Gregory, Biodiversity and Countryside Officer, between 6 and 12 volunteers attend each Wednesday to carry out a range of activities that help to maintain and improve the country park that is so popular with residents.

Britain in Bloom 2011

Six members of Pride of the Borough travelled up to St Andrews to attend the national Britain in Bloom awards ceremony at the end of September 2011. We are delighted to report an achieving a Silver Gilt Award. This is a tremendous achievement for us and an improvement on a previous entry into the national competition in 2006 and caps off a good year for Oadby and Wigston.

These successes could not have been achieved without the support of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council and in particular staff at Client Services. Many staff have gone beyond the call of duty to help get things ready for the judging whilst still maintaining a high standard across the borough. It is only by working together we can achieve the results we have.

Floral displays

Seasonal floral displays in parks including the badge bed at Peace Memorial Park, cemeteries and the golf course, are carried out by grounds maintenance.

Floral displays such as hanging baskets, troughs and tubs are organised by Client Services in conjunction with Pride of the Borough.

Sponsorship of these displays is becoming an increasingly popular way of businesses supporting the Borough's entry into East Midlands in Bloom as well as improving the look of the borough which in turn helps boost trade.

Available for sponsorship are hanging baskets, floral tubs and basket trees in each town centre, borough entrance signs and beds in parks. A sponsorship form is to be completed in order to sponsor floral displays within the borough.

For more information contact Client Services using the contact panel on the left.

Floral Display winners

It has been a another difficult year in the garden but none the less there have been some glorious displays in front gardens that we all can enjoy and appreciate as we move around our borough.

Pride of the Borough organise Floral Display competitions to recognise the hard work that residents put into these displays and this is evident with the increasing standards are judges see each year.

This year we introduced a new category for the most unusual container, this has shown some great ingenuity with entrants planting up such things as a beach bag, complete with beach scene, a bike, a BBQ and a bath. The winner used a piano as her container! We also had a series of planted pots assembled to create 'Grannie Annie'

The winners are:

• Best Front Garden Mrs W Robison of Oadby
• Best Container Mrs J Wright of Wigston
• Best Children's Container Miss E Clothier of Oadby
• Most Unusual container Mrs S Shipp of Wigston
• Best Retail/Commercial Penney's Florists, Wigston
• Best Pub Floral Display Navigation Inn, Kilby Bridge
• Best School Garden St John Fisher School, Wigston

The winners received their awards at the annual awards and celebration evening held at the Brocks Hill Country Park in early October.