Double success for Loughborough

Queen’s Park in Loughborough is one of the city’s open spaces visited by Britain in Bloom judges

Charnwood Borough Council flowers at Queen's Park, Loughborough, with the Carillon Tower in the background — Queen’s Park in Loughborough is one of the city’s open spaces visited by Britain in Bloom judges

A city has been awarded two gold medals for its green spaces and for overcoming adversity after floods.

Loughborough won gold on Monday in the Britain in Bloom final in the East Midlands small towns category.

Additionally, the city won its second gold medal by overcoming adversity in the final, after floods earlier this year.

The judges visited some of its open spaces in August, including Queen’s Park and the Forest Road greenbelt.

A grassy area at Queen’s Park, which was flooded earlier this year after heavy rain

Charnwood Borough Council Grass at Queen's Park covered by a layer of water — A grassy area at Queen’s Park, which was flooded earlier this year after heavy rain

A “huge” amount of work is being put into Loughborough in Bloom, chair Pat Cook has said.

She told the BBC she was “very delighted” with both awards and that it had taken “a lot of hard work and dedication” to win a gold medal.

Ms Cook said there were almost 40 groups of volunteers across the city who worked for free to maintain open spaces.

“Sometimes we also have to apply for grants,” she added. “But it’s just hard work and dedication.”

“We just want our areas to be as beautiful as possible.”

Queen’s Park flooded in January, delaying planned drainage work on a grassy area

Charnwood Borough Council Grassed area at Queen's Park covered in water — Queen’s Park flooded in January, delaying planned drainage work on a grassy area

Drainage works on a grassy area of Queen’s Park have been delayed until May due to flooding, Charnwood Borough Council has said.

The work, which included adding underground pipes and gravel trenches to retain excess water, aimed to reduce the frequency and severity of waterlogging of the grass and path following wet weather.

Ms Cook said: “(The Overcoming Adversity Award) was recognition of our communities coming together during the severe flooding we experienced earlier in the year.

“The green belt was flooded, Queen’s Park and the city.

“We all came together to solve this problem and that’s why we got it.”

This is the fourth time Loughborough has won gold in the final, following successes in 2014, 2016 and 2019.

Charnwood Borough Council Flowers outside Charnwood Museum in Queen's Park — This is the fourth time Loughborough has won gold in the final, following successes in 2014, 2016 and 2019.

The Britain in Bloom final took place in Manchester and was organized by the Royal Horticultural Society.

The council’s open space partner idverde, waste partner Serco, along with volunteers and community groups from across Loughborough, help maintain some of the town’s open spaces, parks and nature reserves.

Matthew Bradford, contracts manager for leisure, waste and environment at the council, congratulated everyone involved.

He said: “It’s incredible news that Loughborough has once again deservedly been awarded gold for its green spaces. »