PRESS RELEASE March 2016

Kendal in Bloom in the RHS Britain in Bloom Finals 2016

Kendal Town Council has been selected from more than 600 entrants to take part in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom UK Finals 2016. Kendal Town Council is one of 72 finalists from across the UK and is in the Large Town category. The group was selected for its outstanding commitment to environmental responsibility, community participation and gardening achievement.

In August this year, Kendal Town Council’s passionate volunteers will be showing off their commitment to a greener, healthier Britain. They will lead RHS Britain in Bloom judges on a tour of local projects and initiatives in the hope of being awarded Gold at the annual award ceremony in October.

In recognition of challenges some RHS Britain in Bloom 2016 UK finalists face as a result of the recent floods, the RHS has created a new award to honour those who have battled against adversity.

The RHS discretionary award for overcoming adversity will recognise those groups that have worked in difficult circumstances to put the bloom back into their towns, villages and cities across England, , , , and .

Councillor Lynne , Chair of the Kendal in Bloom Committee, said “we are absolutely thrilled to be included in the UK finals, after the devastation of the floods in early December it gives us something to look forward to.”

Andrea Van Sittart, RHS Head of Community Outreach, said: “We would like to congratulate Kendal Town Council for reaching the UK finals of RHS Britain in Bloom. It’s a tremendous achievement and illustrates the groups’ impressive commitment to improving their local environment. “Volunteers of all ages and all walks of life participate in Bloom, making extraordinary efforts to improve streets and neighbourhoods in towns, villages and cities across Britain. It is vital we celebrate and recognise their efforts to strengthen their communities and inspire others to get involved.” Britain in Bloom groups are assessed on a wide range of initiatives, such as the maintenance of parks and communal gardens, the management of natural spaces, community campaigns to promote recycling and environmental awareness, and projects involving local residents and schools.

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For more information please contact Janine Holt on 01539 793495 or [email protected] Notes to editors:

Full list of 2016 Finalists:

Finalist Category Region / Nation City Scotland Ahoghill Champion of Champion (Small Town) Amersham Town Thames & Chilterns Barwick in Elmet Large Village Beer Large Village South West City Large City Ulster Bellingham Village Northumbria Champion of Champion (Large City) Heart of England Coastal over 12k South & South East Bute Coastal up to 12k Scotland Canterbury City Small City South & South East Castlecaulfield Village Ulster Town London Champion of Champion Coastal over 12k) Colchester Small City Anglia Large Town Ulster Colwyn Bay Large Town Wales Congleton Large Town North West Corbridge Small Town Northumbria Dalston Large Village Deal Coastal over 12k South & South East City Small City Ulster Dufftown Large Village Scotland Durham Champion of Champion (Large Town) Northumbria Elswick Village North West Evington Urban Community East Midlands Small City South West Coastal over 12k South West Farnham Large Town South & South East Coastal up to 12k Yorkshire Fordham Village Anglia Freckleton Small Town North West Gogarth (Llandudno) Urban Community Wales Great Yarmouth Coastal over 12k Anglia Haddington Town Scotland Small City Yorkshire Hillsborough Large Village Ulster Immingham Town East Midlands Kendal Large Town Cumbria Kippax Urban Community Yorkshire London Borough of Ealing Large City London London Borough of City London Havering London Borough of Tower City London Hamlets Small City East Midlands Lytham Champion of Champion (Coastal up to North West 12k) Mablethorpe Coastal up to 12k East Midlands Mancroft, The Lanes Urban Community Anglia Market Harborough Large Town East Midlands Mathern with Pwllmeyric & Village Wales Mounton Middleton by Wirksworth Village East Midlands Midsomer Norton Town South West Newcastle Coastal up to 12k Ulster Oldham City North West Perth Large Town Scotland Portishead Large Town South West Rugby Small City Heart of England Ryde Large Town South & South East Silloth-on-Solway Coastal up to 12k Cumbria Coastal over 12k North West St Brelade Coastal up to 12k Jersey St George Urban Community South West St Martin Town Guernsey St Peter Port Coastal over 12k Guernsey St Pierre du Bois Champion of Champion (Coastal up to Guernsey 12k) St Saviour Small Town Jersey Studley Small Town Heart of England Tenby Coastal up to 12k Wales Upton on Severn Large Village Heart of England Walthamstow Village Urban Community London Whitehead Small Town Ulster Large City North West Large Town Anglia

About RHS Britain in Bloom RHS Britain in Bloom is the UK’s largest community gardening campaign, involving up to 300,000 volunteers. As part of RHS Britain in Bloom – which includes grassroots community gardening scheme RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood – volunteers in cities, towns, villages, urban communities and neighbourhoods work together to improve their local environment, using gardening as a tool.

To find out more, visit: www.rhs.org.uk/communities

About the RHS The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 by Sir Joseph Banks and John Wedgwood to inspire passion and excellence in the science, art and practice of horticulture. Our vision is to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener, healthier, happier and more beautiful place. We believe everyone in every village, town and city should benefit from growing plants to enhance lives, build stronger, healthier, happier communities and create better places to live.

We held our first flower shows in 1820, were granted a Royal Charter in 1861 and acquired RHS Garden Wisley, our flagship garden, in 1903. From our first meetings in a small room off London’s Piccadilly, we have grown to become the world’s largest gardening charity. At our gardens and shows and through our scientific research, publications, libraries and our education and community programmes we inspire a passion for gardening and growing plants, promote the value of gardens, demonstrate how gardening is good for us and explain the vital roles that plants undertake.

The RHS is committed to bring the joy of gardening to millions more people, inspire the next generation of gardeners and invest in the future to safeguard a £10.4 billion industry employing more than 300,000 people. We are entirely funded by our members, visitors and supporters. RHS membership is for anyone with an interest in gardening. Support the RHS and help us secure a healthy future for gardening. For more information call: 020 3176 5820, or visit www.rhs.org.uk/join

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262