You can help town retain its gold status

Residents in Market Harborough are being urged to get behind the town's bid for gold.

The East Midlands In Bloom judges will be in town on Tuesday, July 5.

Ken Hook, chairman of Market Harborough in Bloom Volunteers (MHiBV), said: “Everyone in the town can help us by putting out an extra tub or hanging basket, cutting the grass in front of their house and making sure there is no litter around. We know that everyone in the town is proud of where they live and work.”

In 2014, MHiBV were the overall winners in the large town category and in 2015 were joint winners with Belper, receiving gold in East Midlands in Bloom.

The last time they were invited to enter Britain in Bloom was 2013 where they received a silver guilt so their aim this year is to win gold.

The East Midlands in Bloom judging route will include: Welland Park, walking along the Millennium Mile, through St. Mary’s Place, Memorial Gardens, The Square, High Street, Old Grammar School, The Three Swans, Fairfield Road to Church of England Academy, past the Fire Station, Union Wharf, Alvington Way, Burnmill Road to the Hammond Arboretum at Robert Smyth Academy, down Burnmill Road to St. Mary’s Road stopping at The Cube Youth Centre, Market Harborough Railway Station, Rockingham Road, Valley Way Trading Estate, back towards town going down Gores Lane to J. Stamp & Sons, walk to St. Nicholas Churchyard and then onto Little Bowden Recreation ground allotments.

Ken added: “The volunteers have not only been busy planting flowers and maintaining the rose garden in Welland Park but also working with the scouting groups planting vegetables and flowers, making hedgehog houses and pallet planters. The group’s school coordinator, Toni Cox, has supplied all seven primary schools in the town with vegetable boxes and organised a painting competition. East Midlands in Bloom is not just about flowers but community involvement so please help us maintain gold.”

The volunteers at MHiBV are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year and Sir Edward Garnier MP recently met up them as part of National Volunteering Week.

Sir Edward added: “The Market Harborough in Bloom Volunteers represent all that is best about this town, doing things for others to enjoy without asking for payment, community spirit and hard work and I wish them well in the contest in this 20th anniversary year. If any group deserve gold it is the Market Harborough Volunteers and I wish them every success with the judges.”

Britain in Bloom’s judging day will be on Friday, August 5.