THE COMMUNITY’S fightback against vandals who wrecked Studley’s floral displays has helped the village strike gold in the annual Heart of England in Bloom awards.
Studley in Bloom took the top award for the fourth year running as well as being named best in the small town category for the second year in a row.
The bid looked to be in ruins after vandals caused about £500 worth of damage by throwing plans against walls and shop windows and using hanging baskets as footballs.
But following the generosity of HMP Hewell, which offered to replace plants lost from its garden centre, and the hard work of committee members the majority of the damage was restored.
Gill Liebthal, chair of the Studley in Bloom Committee, said: “We never expected to get the category award again. It definitely makes it more satisfying following the vandalism but we owe a lot to HMP Hewell for all the plants they gave us to replace what was damaged. I’d just like to thank all our sponsors, everyone who donated money, the staff at Castle Nurseries and the whole In Bloom team which has put in so much time and effort, without which none of this would happen.”
