Usk in Bloom takes on the world
As a multi-award winning Champion of Champions at the Britain in Bloom Awards and winner of Wales in Bloom every year since 1982, the village of Usk in Monmouthshire is used to receiving accolades at the highest national level. This year the hardworking team behind the ‘Town of Flowers’ has enjoyed the additional honour of winning an award on the world stage at the 2018 Communities in Bloom International Challenge which was judged in Alberta, Canada on September 29th.
As providers of a wide range of self-watering planters to the Usk in Bloom team, we at Amberol would like to congratulate everyone involved in Usk in Bloom for winning this prestigious international award.
Judgement day
Every Britain in Bloom group spends all year working towards the all-important day when the Britain in Bloom judges visit. This year the volunteers of Usk in Bloom needed to be ready even earlier than usual in order to welcome the international judges in late June. In a summer that proved more challenging than ever for Britain in Bloom groups across the UK thanks to the heatwave, this was an extra hurdle to overcome but one that the experienced team in Usk managed with aplomb.
An international accolade
Usk in Bloom triumphed in the ‘small’ category of the International Challenge. Usk was competing against community groups from Birdhill, Co Tipperary, Ireland, Fogo in the Newfoundland and Labrador Province of Canada, Pomaretto in Torino, Italy and Tibany from the Veszprém area of Hungary, meaning that Usk represented Wales on a truly international stage.
Community roots
As everyone who is lucky enough to live in a thriving Britain in Bloom area knows, the competition is about so much more than just creating attractive floral displays, although of course this is an important factor! The international competition is no different, with the five finalists being judged on tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscape and floral displays. Visiting judges advise on improvements that can be made on these already outstanding areas and make their decision based on the involvement of the entire community working together towards their horticultural achievements.
The big reveal
Unfortunately the Welsh government was unable to provide funding for the Usk in Bloom committee to visit Canada to attend the prestigious awards ceremony. However, fresh from these celebrations Usk still has more excitement to come when the team travel to Belfast to attend the Britain in Bloom Awards on 19th October where they are competing in the ultimate category – Champion of Champions.
Update, 6th December 2018:
We've heard from the Usk in Bloom committee and they did make it to Canada to the awards ceremony and have kindly sent us this photo (congratulations again!):
Self-watering solutions for Britain in Bloom and business
At Amberol our range of self-watering planters and hanging baskets featuring the unique Aquafeed™ system saves labour and enhances plant life by reducing the need for watering. To find out more, call 01773 830 930 or email sales@amberol.co.uk.
