Durham City is competing for the national Champion of Champions title as judging for Britain in Bloom takes place next week.
Durham County Council’s Civic Pride and Clean and Green teams and the Durham In Bloom group will welcome the judges from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom UK Finals competition on Tuesday 2 August.
After winning gold for the last two years in the Large Town category, Durham City was invited by the RHS to enter the Champion of Champions category in the Britain in Bloom competition.
Alan Patrickson, Durham County Council’s head of direct services, said: “We are extremely honoured and delighted to be welcoming national Britain in Bloom judges to Durham for the third successive year, to showcase the hard work of partners and volunteers in making the city a more attractive place to live, work and visit.
“Durham is a beautiful city, steeped in history, and we are very proud to be a finalist in the Champion of Champions category of the Britain in Bloom competition.”
Starting at the Town Hall, the judges will visit numerous locations including the Market Place, St. Margaret’s Allotments, Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, St. Cuthbert’s Hospice, the Cathedral, Botanic garden, a number of community projects and the recent £3m restoration of Wharton Park.
Cllr Brian Stephens, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and local partnerships said: “The one thing that is great about the In Bloom campaign is that so many people offer their time to help make Durham City bloom.
“We’d like to thank everyone who took part in all the environmental projects, because if it wasn’t for our partners and all of the volunteers then our In Bloom campaign success wouldn’t exist.”
For more information about Durham in Bloom, visit www.durham.gov.uk/inbloom or follow the city’s campaign at www.facebook.com/durhambloom.