ASTWOOD Bank has won gold in the Heart of England Britain in Bloom competition in the large village category.
The annual competition was cancelled last year due to restrictions around Covid-19 pandemic, however this year it’s back and the Astwood Bank Community Group were looking forward to the challenge.
Starting with a small group of gardeners and with the support of Redditch Borough Council, funding was made available to acquire several large planters to place around the village.
In addition to these the team have created and look after several flower beds and over 20 wooden troughs placed under street signs.
The group has been supported since the beginning by the team at Botany Bay Nurseries and includes the involvement of well over twenty local businesses.
Councillor Craig Warhurst representing Astwood Bank & Feckenham said: “I felt really pleased and pleased for Astwood Bank for going for the accreditation and the amount of effort they’ve put in to winning that.
“The council is really proud to support and help the Astwood Bank in Bloom team in winning that award and it was great that they’ve managed to do this during Covid when things have been so difficult for so many.”
Councillor Matt Dormer said “This is great news and I know how hard the volunteers worked to make Astwood Bank bloom.
“It’s very well-deserved and thank you to everyone involved for this tremendous effort which demonstrates how proud we are to live in Redditch.”
Astwood Bank Community Group Chair Ashley Hewitt said: “This is an amazing result which is testament to the hard work and dedication the Astwood Bank In Bloom team have put in to this project.
“I would like to thank the whole team but a particular thanks must go to Colin Bates who left the team earlier this year who was one of the founding members and Chair of the team, and Tessa Hawkes who took over from Colin but who also helped create the project for the community several years ago.”
