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.
Cllr Ruth Williams, Lead Councillor for City Management, said she was thrilled with the result and thanked everyone who played their part in securing victory; “I’d particularly like to thank all our Parks and Green Spaces team for their efforts, not just for this award but for the work they put in around the city, day in, day out throughout the year. This is an achievement they should be rightfully proud of.”
Cllr Laura Wright, Deputy Leader and Lead Councillor responsible for the City Centre, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and a great example of what partnership working can achieve when everyone pulls together. Again, I’d like to thank all of our Parks and Green Spaces workers who played such a big part in this and are out all-year-round in all sorts of weather, making the city look good, as well as the dedicated team at InExeter for this success.”
Mattie Richardson, Projects Manager at InExeter, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive national acclaim for our efforts. Each year, we have built on our knowledge and expertise to deliver impactful planting. Our love for the city drives all our efforts to create a safer, cleaner, and greener environment—a vibrant community where everyone can thrive.”
This award is a testament to the hard work of a dedicated collective. As the Business Improvement District, InExeter serves as the unified voice of local businesses, bringing everyone together and collaborating with a number of committed organisations to achieve remarkable outcomes for the entire city.
The judges' tour highlighted the impressive work of InExeter while showcasing individual businesses dedicated to enhancing the city’s greenery, including the Exeter Cathedral, Exeter Phoenix, Guildhall Shopping Centre, Princesshay Shopping Centre and St Sidwell’s Point.
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.”
