Milton Keynes Aims for Blooming Success

11.05.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 23rd May 2007

Thousands of flowers, plants and trees will be bursting with colour across Milton Keynes as the city bids to become a winner of the Britain in Bloom competition.

The city, a previous winner of both silver gilt and gold awards in the regional contest, is preparing to welcome the judges from the Royal Horticultural Society on 26 July.

Landscape workers from Milton Keynes Council and The Parks Trust are working in partnership to ensure the city is looking its best during the judges' tour.

More than 5,000 flowers and plants are being laid across 18 different bedding plant sites across the city.

The judges are also looking for a city that is taking steps to keep the streets free from litter and graffiti and in previous years the Royal Horticultural Society has noted the high standard of cleanliness in Milton Keynes.

For the first time this year the Open University is part of the judges' route and is gearing up its team of gardeners to make its grounds bloom with colour.

Council landscapers are starting to favour more drought-resistant plants as the impact of climate change starts to make its mark on the gardening world. Norman Parker, council landscape services development officer, explained: "Although we are not planting specific areas with all drought resistant plants we are beginning to incorporate these types of hardy plants across all our planting. Amongst other criteria, the judges are looking for evidence of sustainable planting by local authorities and so looking at more hardy plants such as Lavender, Cistus, Santolina, Phlomis and Verbascum."

The Council is keen to involve the local community in making Milton Keynes bloom and is keen to recruit commercial sponsors for some of its bedding displays. Mr Parker added: "I am sure a business would get a lot of benefit from being associated with some of the bedding displays that really look spectacular during the spring and summer months."

Liberal Democrat councillor Douglas McCall, cabinet member for environment, praised the success of the partnership between the council and The Parks Trust. He said: "Milton Keynes green environment is very important to the residents of Milton Keynes, and it is one of the reasons why people move here."

Last year the Britain in Bloom judges praised Milton Keynes for North Willen Lake (one of the best bird-watching sites in the region), Linford Wood, Wildlife Meadow and Hanson Environmental Study Centre (a 100-acre site with a variety of habitats which supports a great diversity of plant and animal life).

David Foster, chief executive of the Parks Trust, said: "Milton Keynes' parks and green spaces make it a great place to live, work and visit. We take great pride in our work and it's important that Milton Keynes is recognised both regionally and nationally for its stunning green landscape."

If you are interested in sponsoring a bedding plant site please contact Norman Parker on 01908 252968.