Parks staff praised for helping in Exeter’s Britain in Bloom success

Published: 24 October 2024

Staff from Exeter City Council’s Parks and Green Spaces team have been praised after helping secure victory in this year’s Britain in Bloom awards.

The Council team, who help keep Exeter looking good, were heavily involved in InExeter’s entry, which was this week announced as the winner in Britain in Bloom’s ‘Best Business Improvement District’.

It was the latest award for InExeter – the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) – coming hot on the heels of a recent gold award at the South West in Bloom competition earlier this month.

The prestigious Britain in Bloom competition is organised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), aimed at enhancing and regenerating local environments through imaginative planting, conservation projects, and addressing urban challenges like litter and vandalism.

InExeter is dedicated to improving the look and feel of Exeter's streetscape by funding and maintaining hanging baskets, planters, public artwork, and lighting installations. Additionally, the BID employs an ‘over and above’ cleansing team to ensure the streets are clean and welcoming.

InExeter recognised the key role of the City Council’s Parks and Green Spaces Team in achieving the award. The team maintain the Grade II Northernhay Gardens, the oldest public open space in England, originally established in 1612, which was included in the judging route.

Nicola Wheeler, CEO of InExeter, added, “This accolade is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when businesses unite for a common purpose. Over the past decade, InExeter has led efforts to improve the city’s appeal through environmental investments. As we approach the ballot for our third term, we take pride in our journey and look forward to building on this collective success.”