Newbury Town Council has won two awards from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), for the Old Hospital Green’s NHS Commemorative Garden, and for the City Recreation Ground’s orchard and wildflower meadow.
Both projects were part of the Town Council’s ‘In Bloom’ campaigns this year. The awards recognise the efforts that community groups, the Town Council and Newbury residents have made.
The NHS Commemorative Garden at Old Hospital Green, Andover Road, is home to the ‘Binary Conversation’ sculpture, and a new planting scheme was introduced earlier this year, dedicated to the NHS, with herbs, shrubs and plants widely known for their healing qualities. The scheme was designed by local garden designer, Fran Lawton. The Thames & Chiltern in Bloom 2021 judges rated the project as Excellent, and were particularly taken by the interpretation panel which explains the background and the planting.
The organisation Growing Newbury Green, in partnership with Newbury Town Council, has been championing edible crops at the City Recreation Ground in Newbury for over a decade, to care for the area and engage the local community with caring for the orchards. The Wildflower meadow there is now in its second year. In the first year over fifteen species were found, including Corn Marigold, Common Poppy, Cornflower, Yarrow, Wild Carrot and Borage.
The judging panel from Thames & Chiltern in Bloom commented, “This is a well-established project which successfully enhances wildlife and provides a sustainable source of fruit for the local community. It’s a good example of how a range of organisations can work together, and also draw in support from the local community, at the same time as providing opportunities to develop education and skills.
Cllr Martin Colston, Leader of the Council said, “We are so proud and pleased to have received these awards. We would like to thank all of our volunteers….Together with our Wildflower Meadows at both City Rec and Victoria Park we are pleased that we are helping to make Newbury a town we can all be proud of”.
Pictures above are Newbury Town Council Parks & Open Spaces Officer, James Heasman, Cllr Martin Colston, and Cllr Jon Gage at Old Hospital Green
