Flower power

Carlisle wins Cumbria In Bloom prize

Carlisle has won been awarded a Silver medal at today's (Monday, 3 September) Cumbria In Bloom presentation.

The City Mayor, Cllr Mrs Elizabeth Mallinson representing Carlisle City Council, was presented with the prize at the awards ceremony, held in Penrith Leisure Centre.

Carlisle areas and businesses Barras House, Dalston; Brampton; Brampton Funeral Garden; Dalston village; Great Orton; James Rennie School; Nags Head, Brampton; Petteril Bank Community Garden; Stanwix; St Michael's School, Dalston and Wetheral also received accolades.

Cllr Ray Bloxham Portfolio holder for Environment and Infrastructure said:

Local businesses, residents and Carlisle City Council continue to invest a considerable amount of time and effort into making the local environment pleasant places for all residents to saviour. This year's awards are testament to the countless hours of hard work put in by the Council's grounds staff and local communities.

The floral accolades follow on from other blooming prizes awarded to the city this year. Earlier this summer, Bitts Park, Hammond's Pond, Carlisle Cemetery grounds and Tullie House gardens were all singled out as being some of the best green spaces in England and Wales. The winners of the 2007/8 Green Flag Award, the national standard for parks and green spaces, were announced on Wednesday, 18 July. The Carlisle City Council parks and gardens were four of 551 green spaces across England and Wales to achieve the standard.

Carlisle City Council's award-winning Green Spaces team also celebrated a steaming success after their colourful floral display received a top prize a national flower festival (Wednesday, 18 July). The 1.5 metre high locomotive floral display crafted from 4,000 bedding plants, including Petunas, Helichrysum and Begonias scooped a Bronze award at the RHS/Ball Colegrave National Flower Bed Competition, part of the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park, Cheshire.