Brighton & Hove has scooped 21 accolades at this year’s South & South East in Bloom awards. A ceremony held on 19 September 2017 in West Sussex recognised Brighton & Hove City Council staff as well as volunteers and community groups for their work to keep the city’s parks and green spaces looking good.
Steve Peters, garden manager at The Level won the first ever South East Gardener of the Year award; Beacon Hill Nature Reserve, Rottingdean and Preston Park Rock Garden all scooped gold awards while Rock Garden manager Andy Jeavons was recognised with a Horticultural Achievement Award.
Other award winners included: Stanford and Cleveland community Garden which took gold in the ‘Community’ category; Brunswick Town in Bloom who got a silver gilt & winner award in the ‘Urban Community’ category and; in the ‘Neighbourhoods’ category, Kemp Town Gardening and Community Group, Secret Garden Group and Farman Street were all recognised as ‘thriving’.
Commenting on the city’s successes BHCC’s deputy leader Gill Mitchell who attended the awards ceremony said: “I’m absolutely delighted that so many of our city parks and open spaces have been recognised in this way. So much work is involved in maintaining and improving them for the benefit and pleasure of all our residents and visitors.
I’d like to congratulate and thank all council staff involved and especially the raft of volunteers and community groups that give their time and energy to making such a positive difference to our city.”