Efforts by hard working volunteers have earned Canterbury gold status in the South and South East in Bloom competition last month. Canterbury has a colourful approach to keeping street displays, public gardens, and green spaces flourishing. An improved environment brings more customers and revenues, and less graffiti and vandalism.
The Canterbury in Bloom committee is led by the Canterbury Business Improvement District (BID) and consists of 19 community groups, businesses and local authority members. They work together to make improvements to the city’s horticulture, biodiversity and environment – with volunteers continuing to look after the city’s plants during lockdown. Community groups have continued to play an active role in keeping our open spaces and much loved river clean.
Lisa Carlson, from Canterbury BID, said: “In what has been a challenging year for many, we are thrilled to receive this award and that Canterbury has continued to blossom so brightly thanks to the care and attention of so many people.”
Over the past 12 months, there have been more than 20 horticulture projects in the city with extensive planting, cleaning and improvements carried out in parks and public green spaces.
- new murals were installed in Kingsmead Field and in Rheims Way underpass, with additional projects to brighten more underpasses in the city
- around 400 colourful hanging baskets were put on display throughout the city
- a new round of deep-street cleaning took place over the summer and a new schedule of regular cleanings was put in place
- a climate change officer was appointed to tackle environmental issues.
For more information about Canterbury In Bloom, click here.
For recent press coverage, click here.
Photo courtesy of the Friends of Kingsmead Field, River Clean, 12/10/2019
