Veolia sponsors 48th anniversary of London in Bloom
The Kia Oval played host to this year’s event, sponsored by leading environmental services company Veolia, which saw a record-breaking number of entries on what is the 48th anniversary of London in Bloom and the 50th Anniversary of Britain in Bloom.
The City of London won the coveted title of Borough of the Year 2014, as well as being awarded Gold & Category Winner in the Town of the Year category. They are going on to represent London in the Britain in Bloom Awards in October, in the Champion of Champions category.
Meanwhile, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and the London Boroughs of Hillingdon, Havering and Richmond upon Thames shared a number of notable successes between them across the range of categories at borough-wide and individual green space levels, including in the three City categories (Kensington & Chelsea, Hillingdon and Richmond upon Thames), the Biodiversity Award (Kensington & Chelsea) and Country Park of the Year (Bedfords Park in Havering, which also won Large Conservation Area of the Year).
Other winners included Barnes Common winning Common of the Year, East Finchley Cemetery winning Large Cemetery of the Year, Walthamstow Village in Bloom winning the London Village Award, and the National Maritime Museum winning the inaugural Heritage Park/Garden of the Year award.
Individuals were also recognised for their contribution to the sector, as Joyce Bellamy MBE won the Chairman’s Award, Dominic North, the Head Ranger at Happy Valley in Croydon won the Commendation Award and Outstanding Contribution Awards were presented to Geraldine King and Ann Rawlings.
The event was sponsored by Veolia, who has a significant role in London for its landscaping and grounds maintenance operations and produces its own range of peat free compost, soil and lawn conditioners and woodchip mulch called Pro Grow (www.pro-grow.co.uk).
Robert Seear, Veolia’s Regional Manager for South London, said: “We are delighted to once again support this prestigious event and help recognise the fantastic achievements by everybody whose hard work and efforts over the year have been acknowledged with these awards.”
Geoff Hyde, Chairman of London in Bloom, commented: “Thanks to the support of Veolia, our entrants were able to be presented with their awards at one of the iconic venues of London. We are delighted for the recognition this gives of the enormous amount of time and enthusiasm our entries devote to making London a better city for residents, workers and visitors.”
Peter Holman, Vice-Chair and Managing Director of London in Bloom, said: “London in Bloom was delighted to have Veolia as headline sponsor of the London in Bloom Awards again this year. The event held at the Kia Oval was a considerable success which would not have been possible without their support. London in Bloom looks forward to working with Veolia over the next twelve months as we seek to increase participation in protecting and enhancing our environment.”
London will have four representatives in this year’s Britain in Bloom Awards: the City of London, the London Borough of Hillingdon, Westminster in Bloom and the London Bridge Business Improvement District.
A full list of winners can be found at www.londoninbloom.co.uk